Lawler, Gotheimer Introduce Bipartisan bill to protect LIHEAP from staffing cuts

This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and  Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) introduced new bipartisan legislation to protect the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps millions of families across the country afford their energy bills and stay safe during extreme weather. 

The bipartisan legislation would establish a minimum staffing threshold to administer the program, following the Trump Administration’s moves to lay off the entire federal LIHEAP staff earlier this year. This decision, in addition to the Administration eliminating the program entirely in the President’s FY2026 budget request, has put the program’s future in jeopardy, threatening heating and cooling assistance for millions of families, just as summer begins.

“I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill to fix LIHEAP’s staffing crisis, ensuring Hudson Valley families get the energy assistance they need to stay warm this winter. With minimum staffing requirements and smart use of contractors, we’re tackling inefficiency and protecting our most vulnerable who depend on it,” said Congressman Mike Lawler, Co-Chair of the Extreme Heat Caucus.

“Nearly 6 million families nationwide — and 240,000 in Jersey — rely on LIHEAP to keep the heat on in the winter and the AC running in the summer,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “President Trump is hell-bent on dismantling this critical program, firing its entire staff back in April and proposing to eliminate LIHEAP completely in his budget to Congress. My new bipartisan bill will stop these reckless cuts and ensure that no family is left in the cold or heat without help. I’ll keep fighting to protect LIHEAP, lower utility bills, and stand up for hardworking Jersey families.”

LIHEAP, established in 1981 with bipartisan support, is a federally funded program that helps low-income households cover heating and cooling costs. In 2025, New Jersey received $120 million in LIHEAP funding.