LIHEAP's FY2026 Funds Are Fully Disbursed — But the Program Faces Elimination Again in FY2027
The remaining share of Fiscal Year 2026 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding, roughly $421 million, was disbursed to states on April 20, 2026, following delays, according to the American Public Power Association. That brings total FY2026 LIHEAP funding released to about $4.045 billion.
Despite the full release, LIHEAP's future beyond this fiscal year remains contested. The administration's FY2027 budget request again proposes eliminating the program entirely, marking the sixth time a budget proposal under the current administration has sought to zero out LIHEAP funding, according to reporting from The Hill.
LIHEAP has historically drawn bipartisan support in Congress, and lawmakers have restored proposed cuts in prior budget cycles. House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole has publicly said he opposes eliminating the program, per Politico reporting cited by the American Public Power Association.
For households currently relying on LIHEAP, current-year funding is intact; the elimination proposal applies to the fiscal year that has not yet been appropriated. Households concerned about eligibility should contact their state's LIHEAP office directly rather than assume future availability.
See how a change like this affects your own numbers with the LIHEAP eligibility guide.