Trump reups push to eliminate low-income heating assistance program LIHEAP [View all]

Source: The Hill

04/03/26 12:38 PM ET


President Trump is once again proposing to eliminate a program that helps low-income people heat and cool their homes. The president’s budget, released Friday, states that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) should be cut. “For the sixth time, the Budget proposes to end this program,” it said, adding that Trump’s agenda should do enough to lower energy prices and make up the difference.

As of February, people were paying 11 percent more than the same time last year for their gas utilities and 4.8 percent more for electricity. Congress is unlikely to actually enact the cut, as LIHEAP has significant bipartisan support, but the president’s budget is an indicator of his administration’s priorities.

The Trump budget describes LIHEAP as “unnecessary” because states have policies preventing utility shutoffs, “making LIHEAP a passthrough benefiting utility companies.”

“The program rewards States such as New York and California, two of the top recipients for LIHEAP funding, which have implemented anti-energy and anti-consumer policies that drive up home energy prices,” it added. Last year, the Trump administration fired staff who worked on LIHEAP even though the program itself received congressional funding. Democrats on Friday criticized the administration’s proposed cut of the program.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5815067-trump-budget-liheap-energy-prices/