Low-income HVAC program gets $4 billion

The federal government on Tuesday approved funding for a program that helps about six million low- and fixed-income households pay for utility bills, weatherization projects, and HVAC repairs and replacements. 

What’s happening: Congress passed — and the president signed — an appropriations bill that provided $1.2 trillion to fund the government for the full year 2026, which runs through Sept. 30. 

• It includes $4.05 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a $20 million increase from 2025.
• The funding comes despite the Trump administration’s push last year to eliminate the program. 

Why it matters: LIHEAP funds are passed through states to local agencies, which then pay participating contractors. 

What they’re saying: “Programs like LIHEAP protect customers in need, helping to lower the burden on low-income families by enabling improvements to home energy efficiency, replacement or repair of broken heating equipment, and assistance with energy bills,” Karen Harbert, president of the American Gas Association, said in a statement.