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Trump guts low-income energy assistance as summer heat descends and electricity prices rise
- The Trump administration laid off the entire LIHEAP staff on April 1, 2025, and proposed zero funding for the 2026 budget, threatening the federal energy assistance program.
- This action occurs as rising energy costs and record-high temperatures strain millions of low-income households struggling to pay utility bills during an anticipated hot summer.
- LIHEAP helped about 6 million households avoid utility shut-offs in 2023, but demand exceeds funding, forcing many to rely on nonprofits and informal networks that face increasing pressure.
- Annie Levenson-Falk reported a record 91,000 utility disconnections by regulated providers in 2024, not counting other forms of energy loss, highlighting the severity of energy insecurity.
- Removing LIHEAP funding and staff likely increases risks of utility shut-offs, worsening energy affordability, and may lead to greater preventable harm for vulnerable Americans this summer and beyond.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Trump Moves to Gut Low-Income Energy Assistance as Summer Heat Descends and Electricity Prices Rise - Non Profit News
Image credit: Liliana Drew on Pexels This article was republished with permission from The Conversation. The US is headed into what forecasters expect to be one of the hottest summers on record, and millions of people across the country will struggle to pay their power bills as temperatures and energy costs rise. A 2023 national survey found that nearly one in four Americans were unable to pay their full energy bill for at least one month, and n…
Without Energy Assistance, northern Minnesotans will be hit hardest
If proposed federal budget cuts are approved, rural Minnesotans will face higher energy costs, lose heat/power and experience utility disconnects, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC). Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program, administered by the DOC, is fully funded by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The proposed White House budget for fiscal year 2026 (www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/…
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ONTARIO — The Ohio Department of Development and your Area Agency on Aging want to remind older Ohioans that assistance is available to help with their home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of up to seven members and […] The post May 31 is application deadline for Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) program appeared first on Richland Source.
Trump administration poised to eliminate energy assistance program
DULUTH, Minn. — Mary Heilman and her husband recently received a $4,000 bill to fix their boiler. As retirees living on a tight budget, Heilman said it’s hard enough to keep their propane tanks filled in the grueling Northland winters. So they were relieved when the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency stepped in and covered the costs of the repair. “Without energy assistance, there’s no way we could be in our home,” the Makinen resident said. …
Trump guts low-income energy assistance as summer heat descends and electricity prices rise
The U.S. is headed into what forecasters expect to be one of the hottest summers on record, and millions of people across the country will struggle to pay their power bills as temperatures and energy costs rise.
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