Wyoming Freezes New Heating Aid as Shutdown Drains Federal Funds

With input from Sheridan Media, Oil City News, and Wyoming Public Media.

Wyoming’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program has slammed the brakes on new approvals for the 2025–26 heating season, citing the federal government shutdown and an empty pot of federal money. The pause took effect Oct. 15. State officials say they can’t authorize fresh benefits or add applicants until Congress passes a spending bill, the shutdown ends, and dollars actually hit the Department of Family Services’ account.

LIEAP opened Sept. 2 on leftover cash and managed to greenlight help for 1,168 households. Those families are covered through May. Everyone else is being told to keep applying and finish their paperwork so files are ready to go the minute funding is restored. Last winter the program used about $6.1 million in federal support to help more than 8,200 Wyoming households; this year demand jumped early as energy prices and call volumes climbed.

The stakes are plain enough. LIEAP is a crisis-prevention program aimed at keeping the heat on for families, seniors and individuals who qualify at or below roughly 60% of the state median income. DFS says it started this season with about $1.1 million rolled over from last year — enough to get a few weeks down the road, not enough to carry the full winter without Washington’s help.

The shutdown is rippling beyond heating aid. DFS also warned that November SNAP food benefits won’t be issued until federal funding returns. In the last state fiscal year, the program served an average of 28,364 people a month in Wyoming, paying about $185 per person. Nearly half of recipients were children, with adults under 60 making up most of the rest. The agency is working with food banks and local partners to bridge the gap and is urging residents to apply or renew now so benefits can flow quickly once Congress turns the taps back on.

For now, state leaders say they’ll keep paying positions that are fully or partly federally funded, but a long shutdown could force hard choices, including suspending contracts, pausing programs or furloughing staff. If you’re scrambling to cover utilities, DFS recommends calling your power or gas provider about hardship options, dialing 211 for local resources, and checking with Energy Share of Wyoming. And even with the pause in place, submit that LIEAP application — the queue that forms today will be first in line when the money moves again.