Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) led 99 Democratic members of Congress urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Director Russell Vought to immediately release the highest possible amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under the November 2025 Continuing Resolution. The members emphasized the urgent need to restore energy assistance to millions of vulnerable households facing rising utility costs and extreme weather conditions nationwide.

“LIHEAP is already an oversubscribed and underfunded program, reaching only about 17 percent of eligible households. Without immediate action, millions of families across the country could lose access to essential energy services, leaving families exposed to severe health and safety risks as temperatures continue to fluctuate between dangerous heat and cold,” the lawmakers wrote. “Ensuring the immediate release of LIHEAP funds is therefore not only a matter of compassion, but one of public health, safety, and economic stability.”

LIHEAP is a federal program that helps eligible households afford heating in the winter and cooling during dangerously high summer temperatures. Last winter, more than 159,000 households across Massachusetts used the LIHEAP program to help afford their home heating bills.. However, recent administrative actions have placed the program and millions of Americans who depend on it at risk.

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration’s FY26 Budget Request proposed eliminating LIHEAP entirely, while reports in April indicated that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had dismissed all LIHEAP staff. These decisions have created confusion and delay, leaving it unclear who will approve state energy assistance plans or oversee disbursement of funds now that the Continuing Resolution has been enacted.

“Unfortunately, the Administration has shown a blatant disregard for the critical importance of LIHEAP. The FY26 President’s Budget Request (PBR) released earlier this year proposed completely eliminating the program without any plans to replace the needed assistance. Furthermore, during a flurry of chaotic firings at HHS in April, it was reported that the entirety of the LIHEAP staff was summarily fired,” the lawmakers continued. “These decisions have received bipartisan pushback, with Republicans in Congress disregarding the FY26 PBR, opting instead to increase LIHEAP funding in the FY26 Appropriations process. However, the pause in funding due to the government shutdown has delayed disbursement across the country, leaving seniors and families who usually receive LIHEAP assistance this time of year in jeopardy.”

Without swift action to release funds, millions of seniors and families could be left without critical energy assistance until early 2026.

Key Impacts of Delayed LIHEAP Funding:

• Families face dangerous exposure to freezing winter temperatures and life-threatening summer heat.

• Rising electricity and heating costs are straining household budgets, particularly in rural and low-income communities.

• Administrative delays at HHS threaten to postpone LIHEAP disbursements by months.

A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.

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