At least one agency that directs federal heating assistance to low-income Mainers says it’s concerned about a recent decision by the Trump administration to lay off all the staff who manage the national program, but it noted that few details were immediately available about the change.
While Aroostook Community Action Program said it has enough funding currently to process all the heating assistance applications it received as of last week, it is putting all subsequent applicants on a waiting list and trying to learn more about the impacts of the administration’s decision, according to a press release.
The Trump administration has laid off all the workers who administer the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, according to Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, who provided that information to the New York Times and other news outlets. The cuts were part of a broader restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under new Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which is leading to 10,000 layoffs across the agency, the Associated Press reported.
“The Trump Administration just fired the entire staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program,” Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s First Congressional District said about the change. “This is the program that helps millions of low-income households afford home heating and cooling, including 51,000 in Maine.”
Aroostook Community Action Agency also expressed concern about the recent closure of the Boston office of the federal Head Start program for children, but said that it’s still learning more about that change.
“This is very concerning, but we are uncertain about the administration’s long-term plans for either program,” the group said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the name of Aroostook County Action Program.
