President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget would end LIHEAP program, which provides heating assistance for more than 26,000 Vermonters
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today grilled Dr. Alex Adams, President Trump’s pick to serve as Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), about the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP helps more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans afford heat and air conditioning.
“LIHEAP is an incredibly important program—it’s getting zeroed out in the budget. I know that you played a major role in Idaho in administering the LIHEAP program there. It’s really, really important in Vermont in those cold winters,” said Senator Welch. “I’m asking you—as a person who did really good work for the people of Idaho, administering the LIHEAP program—what do you think about zeroing out that program?”
Dr. Adams: “Senator, I’ll reiterate what the Secretary said. If Congress funds it, we’ll get the money out the door.”
Senator Welch: “But the President is zeroing it out. And you’re not in Congress…you’re working for President Trump, right? So, my question goes back to, what’s your view about zeroing out the LIHEAP program?”
Dr. Adams: “So, as a former state budget director, I would say no budget decision is ever made in a vacuum. It has to look at the total picture, and because this is an Administration that’s committed to energy policies, more permits—”
Senator Welch: “So you won’t answer, basically.”
Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below:
Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s exchange with Alex Adams, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary for Family Support at HHS:
Senator Welch: “The whole point of LIHEAP is it’s people who don’t have the resources to participate in the market. They have no control over a) the weather and b) the price of home heating fuel, right?”
Dr. Adams: “Senator, I think in states like mine we have policies that prohibit shutting off of utilities for certain critical months. I think you’re going to have to take into account the nuances and all the other factors in the market.”
Senator Welch: “I’ll just say candidly: I really admire the work you did in Idaho on the LIHEAP program, among other things, and I’m really disappointed in your—from my perspective—lack of candor about what your view is about zeroing out a program that you worked really hard on.”
In May, the Vermont Congressional Delegation pushed back against the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate the LIHEAP and terminate employees at 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.
Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.
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