HHS Cuts Staff Helping Citizens Keep Utilities On

For more than 6 million Low-Income Americans, it could be a Cruel Summer, after Health and Human Services (HHS) Closed the Office responsible for Providing Utility Assistance. The Entire Staff of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was Let Go. The Program Helps Low-Income Families Pay Water, Heating, and Cooling Bills. The Double-Digit number of People Laid-off, may be a Small Fraction of the 10,000 total Layoffs at HHS, but LIHEAP provides Assistance to about 6.2 million Very Low-Income Households. Without Assistance, those People may Not be able to Pay their Vills and End-Up Sweltering in the Summer Heat, and Freezing All Winter.

LIHEAP received about $4.1 billion in Funding for FY25. HHS released 90% of those Funds in October, 2024. The remaining 10%, or about $378 million, used by States to Pay for Summer Cooling, and Emergency Funding for Households that need Additional Assistance and Weatherization, Cannot be Released until HHS determines the Atate-by-State Allocation.

The Person responsible for making the Calculations was also Laid-Off Monday morning. Now the Administration could say that Without an Allocation or Staff to Oversee Funding, they cannot Distribute the remaining $378 million to the States. Many People are in Danger of Utilities Shutting Off their Power this Summer and, in the Future, if LIHEAP is Closed Permanently. Only 17 States and the District of Columbia, provide Consumers with some Summer Shut-Off Protections. And 12% of Households below the Poverty Line, don’t have any Air Conditioning, the Brookings Institure said in 2022.

In less Extreme Situations, a Family can ride out a Hot Day by Opening their Windows, taking a Cool Shower, and hoping it Cools down at Night. But when the Heat persists for Weeks, or the Outside Air is Dangerous, Opening a Window could make things Worse. Heat-related Deaths are Rising. In 2023, a Record Number of People died from the Record Heat, according to an Analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data. Death Certificates of more than 2,300 People who Died in the U.S. that Summer, mention the Effects of Excessive Heat, the Highest Number in 45 years of Records.










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