Senator Edward Markey, D-Mass., criticized the Trump administration’s decision to lay off the entire federal staff overseeing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a vital program helping millions of low-income households pay for heating and cooling costs. “Eliminating the entire federal staff responsible for LIHEAP… isn’t reform, it’s sabotage,” he said.
The layoffs threaten to disrupt the $4.1 billion program, which aids roughly 6.2 million people across the U.S., especially during harsh winters and sweltering summers.
Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, expressed concern, stating, “They fired everybody; there’s nobody left to do anything.” The layoffs were part of a larger reorganization at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), overseen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which saw the dismissal of about 10,000 employees. Approximately 25 staff members had been responsible for running LIHEAP, all of whom were let go.
Despite Congress approving $4.1 billion for the program in fiscal year 2025, much of it had already been distributed to states in October. Around $378 million remains, intended for summer cooling assistance. However, with no staff in place, it is unclear how the remaining funds will be allocated to states. “If there’s no staff, how do you allocate the rest of this money?” Wolfe questioned.
In response, HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard stated that the department would comply with federal law and claimed that the reorganization would improve the agency’s ability to execute Congress’ intent. However, these moves have led to legal challenges, as previous attempts by the administration to freeze or withhold funds have been ruled unconstitutional.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jared Golden and Senator Markey, expressed outrage over the firings, emphasizing the program’s importance for vulnerable families. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, also expressed concern about the impact of the staffing changes on the program, noting her long-standing support for LIHEAP.
A study published in The Economic Journal last year found that 17% of U.S. households face a severe energy burden, spending more than 10% of their income on energy costs. Economists have also linked the affordability of home heating to winter mortality rates. “Without LIHEAP, the effect would presumably be much larger,” said Seema Jayachandran, an economist at Princeton University.
