Fact Check: HHS rehired staff to manage $400 million in energy assistance funds after layoffs
What We Know
The claim that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rehired staff to manage $400 million in energy assistance funds after layoffs is rooted in a series of events that unfolded in early 2025. The Trump administration laid off the entire staff responsible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is a crucial program that helps low-income households pay for heating and cooling costs. This layoff affected approximately 10 employees and was part of a larger restructuring that eliminated around 10,000 positions across HHS (AP News, NBC News).
Following the layoffs, there was significant concern regarding the distribution of remaining LIHEAP funds, specifically about $400 million that had yet to be allocated to states for energy assistance. State officials and lawmakers expressed fears that without the staff in place, the program would struggle to function effectively (CNN, Fast Company). In response to these concerns, HHS did rehire at least one employee temporarily to manage the critical formula needed to distribute these funds (CNN).
Analysis
The evidence suggests that while HHS did rehire some staff, it was not a full reinstatement of the entire LIHEAP team. Instead, the agency brought back one long-time employee for a brief period to handle the immediate needs related to the distribution of the $400 million in funds (CNN). This rehiring appears to have been a stopgap measure rather than a comprehensive solution to restore the program's full operational capacity.
The sources reporting on this situation vary in reliability. The AP and NBC News are established news organizations with a history of fact-based reporting, while CNN also provides a detailed account of the rehiring process and the implications of the layoffs. However, some reports, like those from Fast Company and The Guardian, while informative, may have a more editorialized tone that could influence the framing of the information (Fast Company, EHN).
Overall, while the rehiring of staff did occur, it was limited and did not restore the full functionality of the LIHEAP program, which raises questions about the program's long-term viability and effectiveness.
Conclusion
The claim that HHS rehired staff to manage $400 million in energy assistance funds after layoffs is Partially True. HHS did rehire at least one employee to help manage the distribution of the funds, but this action does not equate to a full restoration of the staff or the program's operational capacity. The layoffs created significant uncertainty about the program's ability to function effectively, and the rehiring was a temporary measure rather than a comprehensive solution.
Sources
- Trump administration fires staff of program that helps low-income households pay for heat
- Trump administration scrambles to rehire key federal workers
- Entire staff responsible for utility assistance included in HHS cuts
- This federal program helps families pay utility bills—but Trump just fired the entire staff
- Heatwave relief at risk as Trump administration layoffs stall $400 million in energy aid
