As American families struggle to pay their heating bills amid crippling inflation, Rep. Mike Lawler is fighting to save a government program while the Biden-Harris administration lines up staff for the chopping block.
At a Glance
- Congressman Mike Lawler has raised urgent concerns about impending layoffs affecting the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- LIHEAP distributed $600 million to approximately 1.1 million New York households in 2023
- Proposed staffing cuts threaten program operations despite record inflation and energy costs
- Lawler directly addressed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about maintaining necessary personnel
Another Government Program Faces the Axe
Just when you thought the government couldn’t possibly get more tone-deaf to the struggles of everyday Americans, here comes news that the Department of Health and Human Services is planning to lay off staff from a program that helps people heat their homes.
Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York’s 17th Congressional District, is speaking out against potential layoffs affecting the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The timing couldn’t be more perfect – you know, with inflation at historic levels and winter approaching. But sure, let’s cut the program that keeps grandma from freezing to death.
The Bare Bones Facts About LIHEAP
For those unfamiliar with the alphabet soup of government programs, LIHEAP provides critical assistance to low-income households struggling with energy costs. In fiscal year 2023 alone, LIHEAP staff helped distribute $600 million to New York, assisting approximately 1.1 million households. The program specifically targets families with seniors, individuals with disabilities, and young children – you know, the most vulnerable among us who might actually freeze to death without heating assistance. In his letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Lawler emphasized the program’s importance, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
Learn more: Congressman Lawler urges HHS to maintain LIHEAP support amid staffing concerns | Rockland Reporter
Priorities in Washington
Let’s put this in perspective: we’re talking about 20-24 staff members who help distribute hundreds of millions in aid to over a million households. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration has had no problem expanding bureaucracy in virtually every other department. They can find money for “climate justice” initiatives, DEI officers at every level of government, and billions in foreign aid, but apparently keeping Americans warm during winter isn’t quite as important. The proposed staffing cuts threaten to disrupt fund distribution precisely when families are facing record energy costs due to inflation that the administration’s policies helped create.
“I respectfully urge you to ensure that the necessary personnel and resources remain in place to support LIHEAP’s continued success” – Rep. Lawler
A Rare Bipartisan Moment
Lawler, who represents parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties, has shown a willingness to work across the aisle on issues that directly impact his constituents. This isn’t about partisan politics – it’s about keeping vulnerable Americans from having to choose between heating and eating. The congressman’s advocacy highlights a fundamental disconnect between Washington bureaucrats and the real-world consequences of their decisions. While they debate in climate-controlled offices, real Americans face the prospect of inadequate heating during harsh New York winters.
As energy prices continue to soar and inflation eats away at family budgets, programs like LIHEAP become even more essential. The irony shouldn’t be lost on anyone that an administration that constantly talks about “helping working families” is cutting staff from a program that literally keeps those families warm. Perhaps if LIHEAP had something to do with electric vehicle subsidies for the wealthy or gender studies programs, it might receive the funding and staffing it deserves. Until then, at least one congressman is fighting to keep the heat on.