Federal cuts threaten to shut off air conditioning for thousands of Michigan families

Extreme weather and federal funding cuts could make for a dangerously hot summer—and a frigidly cold winter—for thousands of low-income families across Michigan this year.

MICHIGAN—The Trump administration has laid off the entire staff of a federal program that helps cover cooling and heating costs for millions of low-income households across the country, creating new uncertainty over the fate of the program and the benefits it provides in Michigan.

This month, roughly two dozen workers who ran the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) were among 10,000 people fired as part of the Trump administration’s dramatic restructuring of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Several senior employees who oversee the program were reportedly locked out of their offices altogether.

And state officials—including those in Michigan—are now wondering whether they will still receive millions of dollars in federal payments to help families afford their utility bills this year, including to cover the cost of air conditioning over the sweltering summer months ahead. 

What is LIHEAP?

LIHEAP eligibility can differ by state, as well as the specific services provided. But in general, the program assists low-income families in covering utility bills or the cost of paying for home heating oil. And it has received support from both Democrats and Republicans for decades.

Last year, the program provided up to $800 per eligible Michigan family for both heating and cooling costs, with payments only being issued during what state officials describe as the state’s winter “crisis season,” which begins Oct. 1 and continues until the funds are exhausted. 

The federal program was created in 1981 and now serves about 6.2 million households annually, including the nation’s most vulnerable residents—like older adults, families with kids, and people with disabilities. Congress approved $4.1 billion for the program this fiscal year.

What’s at stake?

In 2023, Michigan received about $287 million from LIHEAP to provide heating assistance to more than 430,000 households, as well as year-round assistance to 171,000 families statewide. 

And this fiscal year, the state received another $166 million through the program. 

But with the whole staff managing LIHEAP laid off, advocates say the fate of the program—and Michiganders’ continued ability to access the federal assistance—is now entirely uncertain.

“Far too many Michigan families already struggle to pay their utility bills, and these reckless cuts will make the problem even worse,” Luke Tonat, state director at Climate Power, said in a statement. “Slashing a program that Michiganders rely on has dangerous consequences.”

Tonat also said without support for utility bills, Michigan families will inevitably freeze in winter and overheat in summer—leading to more ER visits, missed work, eviction, and even deaths.

What’s next?

LIHEAP has already delivered the bulk of its aid to the states for this fiscal year, but has yet to distribute about $378 million. Now, without any staff in place, states are questioning how (and if) they will get the rest of their money—especially for upcoming summer cooling programs as the forecasters project above- to high-above average temperatures to be in full force by July.

Last week, dozens of Democrats in Congress, including US Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Shri Thanedar, as well as two Republicans, sent a letter urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision to cut LIHEAP staff. Like Tonat, they also warned the cuts will undermine the agency’s ability to help families.

“By removing the staff responsible for managing this vital program, this administration has directly burdened the families in our country who need our support most,” the letter reads. “Gutting this program’s staff is a reckless and irresponsible decision which may cost lives.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is not yet aware of what federal staffing changes would mean for state funding, a spokesperson told Planet Detroit last week.

But officials in other states involved in distributing the federal aid are concerned LIHEAP will collapse without continued federal support—including in Connecticut, which is still owed $8 million in federal funding that was already approved by Congress, as well as Minnesota, which is still expecting an additional $12 million to $13 million in federal funding to arrive this year.

“Will we receive our remaining funds? If we don’t, some states will not run their cooling programs this summer. They’ll scale them back,” Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, told reporters at the Associated Press last week. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

READ MORE: Trump tries to claw back $400M in public health funding from Michigan

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