Federal assistance is still available to low-income Missourians struggling to pay their utility bills, despite the Trump Administration firing all federal employees who worked for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley told Missourinet that the assistance is still available.
“We’ve inquired with (the Department of Health and Human Services) and looked into this…the funds that were allotted to be distributed through this program have been dispersed. They have been distributed,” Hawley said. “So there’s not been any interruption in the flow of funding that Congress has made available to help folks who need this support. That funding is already out the door or will soon be out the door.”
In a statement, the National Low Income Housing Coalition said the LIHEAP staff firings put at risk $378 million to help low-income residents pay their power bills this coming summer. Hawley, though, expressed faith that the Trump Administration won’t abandon poor people who struggle to pay for heat and air conditioning.
“HHS has made clear – Bobby Kennedy has made clear – that he is going to continue to do everything that the law requires in terms of providing support for these folks,” Hawley said. “He wants to reorganize how HHS delivers these services. That’s fine by me. I mean, listen, you’re not going to get any argument from me about cutting out waste and bloat and federal workers, and that’s all fine.”
Sandra Padgett, executive director of the Consumers Council of Missouri, strongly criticized the Trump Administration for firing LIHEAP’s entire work force during an interview on Missourinet’s “Show Me Today.”
“The fact that there aren’t very many people working there makes it even more ridiculous, because it’s not a huge part of the budget,” Padgett said. “It signals that the Trump Administration is not empathetic to the needs of people who are low-income and are struggling to get by.”
She said the need for the federal help is likely to increase soon, as Ameren, Spire, and Liberty are all seeking to increase their rates to residential customers. And Gov. Mike Kehoe, R-Missouri, last week signed SB 4 into law, which critics say will result in higher utility bills.
Alisa Nelson contributed to this report.
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