Entire Staff of HEAP Fired by Trump in Spending Cuts to Dept of Health and Human Services and threatens $378 Million in energy assistance already approved by Congress but yet to be distributed. And, done is such a great fashion – they showed up for work on Monday and were locked out of their building. And, it is two dozen employees that ran this program that runs a $4.1 billion dollar program that helps low income households pay for heat during the winter and cost of air conditioning during the summer.
On April 1, 2025, the entire staff responsible for administering the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was fired. This action, taken by the Trump administration, jeopardized the distribution of billions of dollars in allocated funds to states. As of September 22, 2025, the program’s status is uncertain, and its administration is fragmented.
- Frozen funds: The firings froze the distribution of approximately 10% of the fiscal year 2025 LIHEAP budget—about $378 million—that had not yet been released to the states.
- Funding for 2025: A significant portion of the fiscal year 2025 funding ($4.1 billion) was released to the states before the staff layoffs, which has allowed state-level programs to continue operating.
- Fiscal Year 2026 threats: President Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 eliminates all LIHEAP funding, though the Senate Appropriations Committee has already proposed a $4 billion funding package in response.
In NY, we were sent the forms BUT the question is the administration of the funds. Delays maybe. The Bulk of HEAP administration occurs at the state level.
Federal funds are authorized by Congress and directed to state programs that administer LIHEAP benefits.
