PRESS RELEASE: AABE Raises Alarm Over LIHEAP Staff Firings, Cites Risk to Energy Assistance and Vulnerable Communities

April 4, 2025

Washington, D.C.– The American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) expresses deep concern over the abrupt termination of all staff responsible for administering the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), an action that took place on April 1, 2025. This decision places millions of vulnerable Americans—already burdened by economic hardship and rising utility costs—at greater risk by jeopardizing the timely distribution of critical federal energy assistance, especially as summers grow hotter and winters colder due to climate change and shifting weather extremes.

The firings come at a particularly fragile time. Over $378 million in federal LIHEAP funds remain to be disbursed to states. As noted in a joint statement issued April 2 by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), the removal of key administrative personnel could severely delay or disrupt aid delivery, with direct consequences for low-income families across the country.

“For millions of children across the country, energy insecurity is not just a policy debate, it is their daily reality,” said Ralph Cleveland, President & CEO of AABE. “Families should never have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children. Disruptions to LIHEAP administration undermine a vital public lifeline, particularly for communities of color who already experience disproportionately high energy burdens.”

LIHEAP, originally established as a Reagan-era block grant program, has long enjoyed bipartisan support as a crucial tool to safeguard America’s most vulnerable populations like seniors, veterans, and working families, while helping to keep energy costs low for all ratepayers. Its success and legacy rely on sound federal administration and consistent oversight, both of which are now in serious question.

Cleveland underscored the broader stakes, referencing his recent statement “A Future Held Hostage: Breaking the Cycle of Energy Injustice”:

“If we continue to treat energy policy as a partisan battleground instead of a human imperative, we will fail the next generation before they even have a chance to compete. These children deserve better than political gridlock.”

AABE reaffirms that while non-federal innovations—such as its own Charitable Energy Platform—are being developed to help address affordability gaps, they cannot replace the accountability, equity, and nationwide reach provided by federally managed programs like LIHEAP.

 

About AABE

The American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) is a national non-profit organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. With over 1,800 members and 40 chapters nationwide, AABE is committed to increasing the representation and influence of African Americans and other minorities in energy policy, regulation, research and development, and environmental issues. Through advocacy, education, and professional development, AABE strives to ensure a diverse and inclusive energy sector that benefits all communities.

 

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For more information, please contact:

Camille Moore

Senior Vice President, External Affairs

American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE)

Phone: 202-713-0832, Email: externalaffairs@aabe.org

 

Contact:
Camille Moore
202-713-0832 Phone
externalaffairs@aabe.org

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