WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large), pushed back on the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and terminate employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who distribute the funding. The Delegation previously called on Secretary of HHS Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to immediately reinstate the staff of the Division of Energy Assistance at HHS and disburse funding to states for LIHEAP. They have yet to receive a reply.
LIHEAP is a lifeline to more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans nationwide. In 2024, approximately 23% of Vermont households reported being unable to pay their energy bills in full. The State of Vermont receives approximately $20 million in LIHEAP funding per year.
“The President has described LIHEAP as ‘unnecessary’ and has suggested shifting the burden of this program to states. However, states are under increasing pressure to balance their budgets and will have to prioritize which social services they continue to provide in the absence of federal funding,” wrote the Delegation. “Given the Trump Administration’s continued cuts to safety net programs, states could face budget shortfalls if they are responsible for shouldering the full cost of LIHEAP.”
The Delegation continued: “The administration has a legal responsibility to disburse current LIHEAP funding to states. We appreciate that all funding for fiscal year 2025 continue to be disbursed. However, we remain concerned about the future of LIHEAP under these circumstances.”
In their letter, the Delegation requested a staff briefing and answers to the following questions:
- Which division within the Department of Health and Human Services is currently administering this program? How many FTE staff are working on administering the funding?
- Does the Department of Health and Human Services intend to operate LIHEAP going forward?
- If not, does the Department expect states to operate the program?
- If states are expected to operate the program, will the Department provide resources to transition the administration to state agencies?
Read the full text of the letter.
###