Fitzpatrick to HHS: LIHEAP Funding Must Continue During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) has called on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kennedy to ensure uninterrupted Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding throughout the duration of the government shutdown.

As winter approaches and energy costs rise, Fitzpatrick warned any disruption to this essential program would jeopardize the health and safety of millions of vulnerable Americans and PA-1 community members-including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families.

"I urge the Administration to prioritize continuous funding of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the government shutdown," Fitzpatrick wrote. "No household should have to choose between keeping their homes safe temperatures, basic health care, or having food on the table.

Fitzpatrick's letter calls on HHS to use every available authority and mechanism to maintain LIHEAP operations without interruption and to communicate clearly with states and providers to prevent service gaps that would endanger vulnerable communities during the shutdown.

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Secretary Kennedy and Director Vought:

I am writing to urge the Administration to prioritize continuous funding of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the government shutdown.

LIHEAP is a crucial program for families in my district and across the country to have the ability to afford heating and cooling. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, at least 70 percent of LIHEAP households report that at least one household member who is age five or younger, 60 or older, or has a disability. Vulnerable families and seniors will have to make painful decisions surrounding their utilities as we enter the winter season. No household should have to choose between keeping their homes safe temperatures, basic health care, or having food on the table.

LIHEAP is an efficient and targeted program, with state block grants flowing to local agencies to eligible households on a short-term basis to prevent utility disconnections or provide assistance with the cost of heating and cooling their homes. As energy costs have continued to rise in recent years, the number of families struggling to afford utilities has grown. Dramatic changes in temperatures and related weather events have also increased demand for this program, as more households are exposed to severe fluctuation of hot and cold temperatures. The CDC recorded over 2,000 heat related fatalities in 2023 alone.

With this in mind, I respectfully ask the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Management and Budget provide a response to the following questions:

1. How many households may be impacted by this lapse in funding?
2. Are your agencies working with or monitoring state governments and utility companies to coordinate alternative options for households in need of heat as we approach the winter months?

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Background:

Congressman Fitzpatrick has consistently led efforts to protect critical federal programs from the collateral damage of Washington gridlock-and that work begins with the people most affected. As soon as reports of these workforce reductions and funding threats broke, Fitzpatrick immediately engaged families, local advocates, and community partners across Bucks and Montgomery Counties to elevate their concerns directly to federal decision-makers and demand swift action.

Earlier this month, Fitzpatrick called on the Department of Education and Office of Management and Budget regarding the Department's reduction-in-force plan, which would significantly impact the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)-undermining essential supports for students with disabilities, parents, and educators.

Fitzpatrick has also pressed HHS Secretary Kennedy and OMB Director Vought on reports of a reduction-in-force at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). He warned that weakening SAMHSA's capacity would directly endanger prevention, treatment, and crisis services that millions of families rely on.

This effort is a continuation of Fitzpatrick's bipartisan leadership to defend and strengthen the essential programs that working families, seniors, and vulnerable neighbors in Pennsylvania's First District-and nationwide-count on.

About LIHEAP:

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides critical heating and cooling assistance to low-income households. In Pennsylvania, thousands of families rely on LIHEAP each year to keep their homes warm during the winter, prevent heating emergencies, and protect their health and safety.