Washington state low-income energy aid continues despite federal shutdown

Washington state low-income energy aid continues despite federal shutdown John Ryan November 10, 2025 / 10:43 am

The U.S. government shutdown has turned off the spigot of federal aid for people who need help to keep the heat on, but the situation in Washington state is less dire than elsewhere.

With the shutdown, already the longest in U.S. history, financial help from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is in limbo.

The program helps pay about 6 million low-income families’ heating bills and energy expenses, including preventing utility shutoffs, making homes more energy efficient, and replacing heating equipment.

The shutdown has forced states including New York, Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming to