Trump Cuts Threaten Energy Assistance For 130K Minnesota Homes

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota families in need could be left without help to heat their homes after the latest round of Trump administration cuts threw a key federal program into limbo, according to a leading state consumer watchdog.

The Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota (CUB) released a statement Wednesday saying it was "dismayed" after the Trump administration reportedly cut the entire federal staff responsible for overseeing the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP, or Energy Assistance) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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"Energy Assistance is a vital and extremely popular program,” said Annie Levenson-Falk, CUB’s executive director, in a statement. "Even a delay in funding will mean that eligible Minnesotans risk utility shutoffs or being unable to refill empty propane or fuel oil tanks."

The state of Minnesota is currently awaiting the final 10 percent of federal funding for the current program year, which Congress approved in its recent Continuing Resolution. If that funding is delayed, support to Minnesota households will be paused, CUB said.

For more than 40 years, the Energy Assistance program has helped income-eligible Minnesotans cover heating costs during the winter months.

Each winter, about 130,000 Minnesota households receive assistance through the program. And about 75 percent of the funding goes to households located outside the Twin Cities metro area.

Many participating households include seniors, children, or people with disabilities, CUB noted.

In 2024 alone, more than 91,000 Minnesota households had their utilities shut off due to non-payment.

The staffing cuts come as Minnesotans continue to feel the effects of inflation and face the possibility of rising energy costs due to tariffs on Canadian imports. In 2024, more than 91,000 households statewide experienced utility shutoffs for non-payment, according to state data.