The Trump administration has reportedly dismissed the entire staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a $4.1 billion initiative aiding millions of low-income families with winter heating costs. This action has caused concern among state officials who are now uncertain about receiving expected federal funding.
According to Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the approximately two dozen employees managing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program were among the 10,000 individuals terminated as part of a significant reorganization within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Wolfe stated that several senior employees responsible for the program, which assists roughly 6.2 million households annually, were denied access to their workplace upon arrival on Monday.
He added that the dismissals happened without any prior notification.
On Thursday, a bipartisan group of 13 U.S. senators, including two Republicans, addressed a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging the administration to reconsider the LIHEAP staff cuts. They cautioned that these terminations would jeopardize the agency’s capacity to deliver essential support to vulnerable seniors and families.
While the program had already allocated the majority of its funding to states for the current fiscal year, $378 million remained undistributed.
The program also provides financial assistance for air conditioning expenses during hot summer months.
In response to inquiries regarding LIHEAP’s future and the pending payments, Emily Hilliard, deputy press secretary for HHS, stated that the agency will continue to adhere to legal requirements and that the reorganization would improve its ability to fulfill Congress’s intended purpose.
Kennedy has described the broader agency restructuring as a necessary “recalibration.”
With no staff in place, states are now questioning whether they will receive their remaining funds, especially for planned summer cooling programs.
Wolfe stated that a failure to receive the remaining funds could force some states to reduce or eliminate their summer cooling programs.
State officials involved in aid distribution have expressed concerns that LIHEAP could collapse without federal support.
Peter Hadler, deputy director of the Connecticut Department of Social Services, noted that emails to long-time program contacts are bouncing back and that his state is still owed $8 million.
In Minnesota, where the northern region experienced a foot of snow on Wednesday, the Department of Commerce anticipates running out of funds by mid-April for new applicants seeking assistance with heating and electricity bills.
The state had been expecting an additional $12 million to $13 million in federal funding, which had already been approved by Congress. These funds would assist over 10,000 households in paying their utility bills and preventing power disconnections. Approximately 130,000 Minnesota households receive LIHEAP assistance each year.
Pete Wyckoff, deputy commissioner of energy resources at the department, emphasized that winter conditions persist in Minnesota and that the additional funding is crucial to support residents through the remainder of the winter season.
Program eligibility and specific services vary by state. Generally, the program helps families cover utility bills or heating oil costs and has historically received bipartisan support in Congress.
Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the Republican senators who signed the letter urging Kennedy to reconsider any staffing or funding cuts that could endanger the program.