Six New England governors ask Congress for $3 billion more in winter heating aid

On Monday, Nov. 9, six New England governors asked Congress to add $3 billion to the federal program that helps low-income families pay their heating bills. They warned that heating oil prices are expected to rise about 50% this winter ¹³. The extra money would bring the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, to about $7 billion ¹².

The letter went to the leaders of the committees that write federal spending bills. In the House, that means Appropriations Chair Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro. In the Senate, it means Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine and Vice Chair Patty Murray ¹³. The governors said Congress could raise the yearly budget or pass a one-time emergency bill, and they asked for action as soon as possible ²³.

On tapeWMTW-TV · Nov 10

▶0:32

The signers come from both parties: Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Dan McKee of Rhode Island, Janet Mills of Maine, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Phil Scott of Vermont ¹. They wrote that the extra money is needed urgently ². Without it, they said, higher prices will shrink what each LIHEAP dollar buys. States would then have to cut benefits or help fewer households ¹².

No one should be cold in their homes because Trump decided to wage an unnecessary, unwanted war with Iran

Why heating oil costs are climbing

The 50% estimate comes from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), a group of the state officials who run LIHEAP. NEADA estimates that low-income households across the Northeast could face nearly $1.1 billion in extra heating oil costs ¹³. The federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) gave a lower forecast in October. It expects heating oil prices to average 34% more than last winter, with typical household spending up 21% because a warmer Northeast winter is forecast ¹⁰.

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Energy costs rose this fall as the war in Iran restricted shipments of diesel and crude oil. Russia also banned diesel exports after Ukraine attacked its refineries ⁶. The EIA says less oil is being refined worldwide and other countries are buying more U.S. fuel. As a result, U.S. stocks of distillate fuels, which include heating oil, are expected to be about 11% below the five-year average this fall ¹⁰.

Households are already paying more. On Monday, the average price of heating oil in Massachusetts was $5.94 a gallon. A year earlier it was $3.74 ¹. In Maine, the average was $6.01 on Nov. 2 ⁶, roughly 57% higher than when the war began in late February ². In New Hampshire, Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill said, "We're almost at $7 a gallon" ⁴.

On tapeWMUR-TV · Nov 10

▶1:01

A region that runs on oil

Only about 3% of U.S. homes heat with oil, and most of them are in the Northeast ¹⁰. In Maine, about half of households use oil as their main source of heat ⁶. Lamont said more than a third of Connecticut households depend on oil delivered by truck. Connecticut has added $12.7 million in emergency state money from its Federal Cuts Response Fund to its federal LIHEAP money ³.

I am deeply concerned about how my seniors, how my families are going to stay warm

Stevens said some retired school principals in New Hampshire have gone back to work as substitute teachers so they can afford to fill their tanks ⁴. Ayotte said the request has "a sense of urgency" and that the state has no waiting list for help right now ⁴.

This has always been a bipartisan issue.

Trump's budget would end the program

The request comes as the Trump administration's budget for fiscal 2027 proposes ending LIHEAP. The program got about $4 billion this year ⁷⁸. This is the sixth Trump budget to try to eliminate it, and Congress has rejected every one ⁷. The White House budget office argued that states already bar utilities from shutting off power to low-income households. It also called the program a pass-through that benefits utility companies, especially in the Northeast ⁸.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which runs the program, estimates that 5.9 million households get help with heating and cooling bills ⁷. Even so, only 20% of eligible households receive help each year, according to the office of Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts ¹.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said this spring that HHS had cut all of its LIHEAP staff in April 2025, leaving one employee to run the program ⁷. She said the aid is "not just kind of nice to have, but for so many it was very imperative" ⁷.

It's particularly painful for working people and low-income people

For this winter, HHS released $3.6 billion in October. That is 90% of the yearly amount under the temporary spending law, called a continuing resolution, that keeps the government open ⁹. The money came much earlier than last year, when a government shutdown held it up until December ⁶. Maine is getting more than $36 million, according to Collins' office ⁶. Massachusetts is getting $142.3 million, nearly $4 million less than its first payment last year, because a five-year boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has ended ¹.

The Energy Department is releasing 315,000 barrels from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. It is the first time in the reserve's 26-year history that oil has been released to bring prices down ⁶. The governors wrote that steps like this cannot fully cover the costs families face this winter ⁶.

What comes next

That matters because Republicans control both chambers of Congress until January, and they decide whether the extra $3 billion moves. Also, if the government runs on a continuing resolution all year, the last 10% of this year's LIHEAP money still has to be released ⁹. Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, represents the state that depends most on heating oil ²⁷.

The pattern is clear. Lawmakers from both parties have kept LIHEAP alive each time the White House tried to end it ⁷. This winter's question is different: whether Congress will add enough money to keep up with prices that the governors tie to a war, before the coldest weeks arrive.

The Record

1. Apr 7, 2026The American Public Power Association reports that Trump's fiscal 2027 budget proposes eliminating LIHEAP ⁸.
2. Oct 7, 2026The EIA forecasts that heating oil prices will average 34% more this winter than last ¹⁰.
3. Oct 13, 2026The American Public Power Association reports that HHS has released $3.6 billion in fiscal 2027 LIHEAP money, 90% of the yearly amount ⁹.
4. Nov 9, 2026Six New England governors ask Congress for $3 billion more in LIHEAP funding, which would bring the total to $7 billion ³.

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<h2>Six New England governors ask Congress for $3 billion more in winter heating aid</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/six-new-england-governors-ask-congress-for-3-billion-more-in-winter-heating-aid">The GOP Files</a> on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.</em></p> <p>On Monday, Nov. 9, six New England governors asked Congress to add $3 billion to the federal program that helps low-income families pay their heating bills. They warned that heating oil prices are expected to rise about 50% this winter . The extra money would bring the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, to about $7 billion .</p> <p>The letter went to the leaders of the committees that write federal spending bills. In the House, that means Appropriations Chair Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro. In the Senate, it means Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine and Vice Chair Patty Murray . The governors said Congress could raise the yearly budget or pass a one-time emergency bill, and they asked for action as soon as possible .</p> <p>The signers come from both parties: Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Dan McKee of Rhode Island, Janet Mills of Maine, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Phil Scott of Vermont . They wrote that the extra money is needed urgently . Without it, they said, higher prices will shrink what each LIHEAP dollar buys. States would then have to cut benefits or help fewer households .</p> <blockquote><p>No one should be cold in their homes because Trump decided to wage an unnecessary, unwanted war with Iran</p><p>&mdash; Janet Mills, Governor of Maine, Democrat</p></blockquote> <h2>Why heating oil costs are climbing</h2> <p>The 50% estimate comes from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), a group of the state officials who run LIHEAP. NEADA estimates that low-income households across the Northeast could face nearly $1.1 billion in extra heating oil costs . The federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) gave a lower forecast in October. It expects heating oil prices to average 34% more than last winter, with typical household spending up 21% because a warmer Northeast winter is forecast .</p> <p>Energy costs rose this fall as the war in Iran restricted shipments of diesel and crude oil. Russia also banned diesel exports after Ukraine attacked its refineries . The EIA says less oil is being refined worldwide and other countries are buying more U.S. fuel. As a result, U.S. stocks of distillate fuels, which include heating oil, are expected to be about 11% below the five-year average this fall .</p> <p>Households are already paying more. On Monday, the average price of heating oil in Massachusetts was $5.94 a gallon. A year earlier it was $3.74 . In Maine, the average was $6.01 on Nov. 2 , roughly 57% higher than when the war began in late February . In New Hampshire, Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill said, &quot;We&#39;re almost at $7 a gallon&quot; .</p> <h2>A region that runs on oil</h2> <p>Only about 3% of U.S. homes heat with oil, and most of them are in the Northeast . In Maine, about half of households use oil as their main source of heat . Lamont said more than a third of Connecticut households depend on oil delivered by truck. Connecticut has added $12.7 million in emergency state money from its Federal Cuts Response Fund to its federal LIHEAP money .</p> <blockquote><p>I am deeply concerned about how my seniors, how my families are going to stay warm</p><p>&mdash; Janet Stevens, New Hampshire Executive Councilor</p></blockquote> <p>Stevens said some retired school principals in New Hampshire have gone back to work as substitute teachers so they can afford to fill their tanks . Ayotte said the request has &quot;a sense of urgency&quot; and that the state has no waiting list for help right now .</p> <blockquote><p>This has always been a bipartisan issue.</p><p>&mdash; Kelly Ayotte, Governor of New Hampshire</p></blockquote> <h2>Trump&#39;s budget would end the program</h2> <p>The request comes as the Trump administration&#39;s budget for fiscal 2027 proposes ending LIHEAP. The program got about $4 billion this year . This is the sixth Trump budget to try to eliminate it, and Congress has rejected every one . The White House budget office argued that states already bar utilities from shutting off power to low-income households. It also called the program a pass-through that benefits utility companies, especially in the Northeast .</p> <p>The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which runs the program, estimates that 5.9 million households get help with heating and cooling bills . Even so, only 20% of eligible households receive help each year, according to the office of Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts .</p> <p>Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said this spring that HHS had cut all of its LIHEAP staff in April 2025, leaving one employee to run the program . She said the aid is &quot;not just kind of nice to have, but for so many it was very imperative&quot; .</p> <blockquote><p>It&#39;s particularly painful for working people and low-income people</p><p>&mdash; Jack Reed, U.S. senator, D-R.I.</p></blockquote> <p>For this winter, HHS released $3.6 billion in October. That is 90% of the yearly amount under the temporary spending law, called a continuing resolution, that keeps the government open . The money came much earlier than last year, when a government shutdown held it up until December . Maine is getting more than $36 million, according to Collins&#39; office . Massachusetts is getting $142.3 million, nearly $4 million less than its first payment last year, because a five-year boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has ended .</p> <p>The Energy Department is releasing 315,000 barrels from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. It is the first time in the reserve&#39;s 26-year history that oil has been released to bring prices down . The governors wrote that steps like this cannot fully cover the costs families face this winter .</p> <h2>What comes next</h2> <p>That matters because Republicans control both chambers of Congress until January, and they decide whether the extra $3 billion moves. Also, if the government runs on a continuing resolution all year, the last 10% of this year&#39;s LIHEAP money still has to be released . Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, represents the state that depends most on heating oil .</p> <p>The pattern is clear. Lawmakers from both parties have kept LIHEAP alive each time the White House tried to end it . This winter&#39;s question is different: whether Congress will add enough money to keep up with prices that the governors tie to a war, before the coldest weeks arrive.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/six-new-england-governors-ask-congress-for-3-billion-more-in-winter-heating-aid">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/six-new-england-governors-ask-congress-for-3-billion-more-in-winter-heating-aid.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. WBUR, “New England governors seek $3 billion more for winter heating aid” (2026-11-10). wbur.org/news/2026/11/10/new-england-governors-liheap-fundin
2. Portland Press Herald, “New England governors call on Congress to tack on $3 billion in heating aid” (2026-11-09). pressherald.com/2026/11/09/new-england-governors-call-on-con
3. Office of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, “Governor Lamont and New England Governors Urge Congressional Leaders To Increase Funding for Home Heating Assistance as Global Oil Supplies Are Causing Prices To Surge” (2026-11-09). portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/11-2026/gove
4. WMUR, “New England governors ask federal government for $3B more in heating assistance” (2026-11-10). wmur.com/article/new-england-governors-heating-assistance-11
5. NEWS CENTER Maine (via Yahoo News), “Governor Mills urges Congress for $3B in heating aid amid steep oil costs” (2026-11-10). yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/governor-mills-urges-congre
6. Maine Morning Star (via Yahoo News), “Mills joins New England governors in call for increased federal heating assistance” (2026-11-10). yahoo.com/news/us/articles/mills-joins-england-governors-cal
7. Roll Call, “Lawmakers buck calls to defund low-income heating program” (2026-04-24). rollcall.com/2026/04/24/lawmakers-buck-calls-to-defund-low-i
8. American Public Power Association, “President proposes cutting energy programs in 2027 budget” (2026-04-07). publicpower.org/periodical/article/president-proposes-cuttin
9. American Public Power Association, “HHS Releases $3.6 Billion in FY 2027 LIHEAP Funding” (2026-10-13). publicpower.org/node/31455
10. U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Mixed outlook for energy expenditures this winter” (2026-10-07). eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68264

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