Golden, bipartisan group of lawmakers push for faster release of LIHEAP funds

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) led a bipartisan group of 44 lawmakers calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to distribute Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to states by November 30, 2025. 

States typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October. However, the recent government shutdown delayed disbursement of these critical funds that help roughly 6 million Americans — including 45,000 Mainers — heat their homes.

“We appreciate the agency’s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance.”

They continued, “Given that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste… The risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery.”

Golden has pushed back against Secretary Kennedy repeatedly this year for his management of LIHEAP, particularly regarding his decision to fire the program’s entire staff this spring. He helped lead a letter with more than 80 colleagues calling for the protection of LIHEAP and the rehiring of the staff who manage it. 

In light of concerns about LIHEAP’s ability to operate without dedicated staff, the lawmakers wrote, “If disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10.”

Golden has successfully led several efforts to increase Mainers’ access to heating assistance throughout his time in Congress. He helped secure $6.1 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2023, and worked with the rest of Maine’s Congressional Delegation to win an additional $38 million for Mainers in fiscal year 2024 — including $1.4 million for Maine’s tribes.

The full letter can be found here, and is included below in full:

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Dear Secretary Kennedy,

As the federal government resumes the administration of essential programs, we write to you regarding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). We appreciate the agency’s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing. It is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance. 

As you know, states typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October. This four-week delay between appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and disbursement to states is usually attributed to the amount of time it takes HHS to calculate each state’s apportionment of LIHEAP funding. Given that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste. If the HHS does not marshal all available resources to get LIHEAP funds out the door, it risks putting households across the U.S. in jeopardy of not receiving heating assistance in time. 

The risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery. 

In the agency’s notification to LIHEAP Grant recipients and stakeholders, HHS noted that the Office of Community Services’ (OCS) would use special authority to release the funds. Should the agency require additional action from Congress to ensure these funds are disbursed expeditiously, we request that you notify us without delay. 

Additionally, we request that HHS take the following actions: 

1. Continue to carry out all necessary steps to accelerate the typical four-week timeline for LIHEAP disbursement. 
2. Tap additional staff as needed to ensure that funds are disbursed rapidly.
3. Maintain regular contact with LIHEAP recipients about expected timelines for release of funds and any estimated delays as soon as possible. 
4. If disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10. 

We continue to have serious concerns about the LIHEAP program’s capacity to operate effectively without dedicated staff. We urge you to ensure that necessary personnel and resources are in place to support LIHEAP's continued success. 

We urge you to do everything possible to distribute LIHEAP funds to states and families without delay. With home heating costs expected to rise faster than inflation this winter , families should not have to choose between staying warm and other essential items like food, medication, or rent. We appreciate your attention on this urgent matter and stand ready to support the agency in assisting the American people.

Sincerely,

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