The Trump administration has dismissed the entire staff of a $4.1 billion program designed to assist millions of low-income households with heating costs during the winter, leaving state officials concerned about whether they will still receive millions in anticipated federal funding.
Approximately two dozen employees who managed the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) were among 10,000 workers terminated as part of a sweeping restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. He revealed that several senior staff members responsible for overseeing the program, which serves around 6.2 million households annually, were locked out of their offices upon arriving at work on Monday.
“There was no warning,” Wolfe said. “The way it was done was abrupt.”
On Thursday, 13 U.S. senators, including two Republicans, sent a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging the administration to reverse its decision to eliminate LIHEAP’s staff. The lawmakers warned that these terminations could undermine the agency’s ability to provide a “crucial lifeline” for low-income seniors and families.
Although most of LIHEAP’s funding for this fiscal year had already been distributed to states, $378 million remains unallocated. The program also assists households with cooling costs during the summer months.
When questioned about the future of LIHEAP and the outstanding payments, Emily Hilliard, deputy press secretary for HHS, stated: “HHS will continue to comply with statutory requirements, and as a result of the reorganization, will be better positioned to execute on Congress’s statutory intent.”
Kennedy has described the broader overhaul of his agency as necessary to “recalibrate” its operations.
Without any staff managing the program, states are now uncertain about how—or if—they will receive the remaining funds, particularly for upcoming summer cooling initiatives.
“Will we get our remaining funds? If not, some states may have to scale back or cancel their cooling programs this summer,” Wolfe said.
State officials involved in distributing aid expressed fears that LIHEAP could collapse without federal support.
“Emails to longtime contacts bounce back—people who were deeply knowledgeable about the program,” said Peter Hadler, deputy director of Connecticut’s Department of Social Services. Connecticut is still owed $8 million.
In Minnesota, where parts of the state received a foot of snow on Wednesday, the Department of Commerce anticipates running out of money by mid-April to help new applicants cover heating and electric bills. The state had expected an additional $12 million to $13 million in federal funding, already approved by Congress. This funding would have helped more than 10,000 households pay their utility bills and avoid power shutoffs. Each year, approximately 130,000 Minnesota households rely on LIHEAP assistance.
“Winter isn’t over yet in Minnesota. It snowed yesterday,” said Pete Wyckoff, deputy commissioner of energy resources at the department. “We urgently need that extra funding to carry us through the rest of the season.”
Eligibility criteria and services vary by state, but LIHEAP generally helps families cover utility bills or the cost of home heating oil. The program has enjoyed bipartisan congressional support for decades.
Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the two Republican signatories on the letter urging Kennedy to prevent any staffing or funding cuts that might jeopardize the program.