With the recent passage of the five‑bill funding minibus, Congress has not only successfully preserved the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) but has even increased its funding by $20 million for FY2026. This tremendous outcome was made possible only through months of bipartisan work by NEFI and our coalition partners, and reflects the program’s enduring support among lawmakers.

This victory comes despite significant challenges over the past year. The Administration has repeatedly proposed eliminating LIHEAP in its budget proposals and may do so again this year. In addition, last April, the Department of Health and Human Services eliminated the administrative staff that oversaw LIHEAP, raising serious concerns about operational capacity that have yet to be addressed.

Given these challenges, along with the historically cold winter we’ve been experiencing, we must not rest on our laurels. To ensure LIHEAP’s long‑term stability, we need to keep the pressure on.

“While some state governments are objectively better at administering this program than others, not all states can absorb the budgetary impacts of federal LIHEAP cuts or its elimination entirely," said NEFI President & CEO Jim Collura. “It is therefore imperative that we ‘hold the line’ in support of the millions of Americans that rely on this vital safety net, including households with disabled veterans, seniors on a fixed income, and families with small children.”

NEFI is again partnering with National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) in an advocacy campaign that spans the Northeast and beyond. Please add your business or organization to NEUAC’s all‑parties letter, which will be delivered to Congress ahead of LIHEAP Action Day at the end of the month.

If you want to do even more, please write to your elected representatives and join NEFI in calling for full FY2027 LIHEAP funding at $5.1 billion.