- Millions of low-income Americans already struggle to afford air conditioning amid rising electricity costs and record-breaking temperatures.
- President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal aims to eliminate the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program provides crucial utility assistance to vulnerable families.
- Eliminating LIHEAP could lead to increased energy poverty. It could also result in utility disconnections and heat-related illnesses and deaths. This is especially concerning for the elderly, disabled, and families with young children.
- Winter protections against utility shutoffs exist in most states. However, only a minority of states have similar safeguards during summer heat waves.
“…1 in 6 households are now behind on their utility bills – collectively owing these companies about $24 billion. For these families, falling behind means choosing between electricity and food, between staying cool and buying medicine. “
“In 2024 alone, LIHEAP helped nearly 6 million households, many of whom are elderly, disabled or raising young children who would be left vulnerable in homes that are increasingly uninhabitable in the summer heat. And many of these families will be even less able to pay their home energy bills now that Congress has passed the Trump-approved One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes significant cuts to food stamps and Medicaid.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2025/07/14/trump-liheap-electricity-bills-extreme-heat-ac/84525794007/
The looming loss or reduction in SNAP benefits for millions of people will push many households over the edge. The loss of LIHEAP funding adds to this burden. For vulnerable people the loss of cooling will be deadly.
From the National Library of Medicine: “This study found that heat-related mortality rates in the US increased between 1999 and 2023, especially during the last 7 years… As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the recent increasing trend is likely to continue. Local authorities in high-risk areas should consider investing in the expansion of access to hydration centers and public cooling centers or other buildings with air conditioning.”
The study shows that government should be providing more help due to rising temperatures, not less. The ending of LIHEAP assistance will only lead to more deaths, preventable deaths, in the next few years. Please reach out to your representatives and senators. Let them know they have the ability to restore this funding. They can restore this life-saving assistance to millions.
Reach out to local leaders and ask them to set up cooling centers in your community. You will save lives.
Find Your Members of Congress @ https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
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