The Trump administration plans to quickly disburse funds to help low-income Americans pay their energy bills now that the government has reopened, but the longest shutdown in history and staffing cuts within the program threaten to exacerbate delays as winter begins.
The agency that administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will “work swiftly to administer annual awards,” Health and Human Services Department spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said Wednesday, reiterating the department’s commitment from a few weeks ago.
Like food aid, federal funds for heating and cooling homes have been on hold since the government shut down on Oct. 1, creating uncertainty ...