CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Family Services recently announced its Wyoming Low Income Energy Assistance Program, or LIEAP, is pausing the approval of new applications for the 2025–26 heating season.
A release from the Department of Family Services states that the pause is effective as of Wednesday, Oct. 15 and is due to the current federal government shutdown.
“The program has been paused because there are no remaining federal funds to authorize new benefit payments or to approve additional applicants until Congress passes a spending bill, the federal government reopens, and funding has been received by DFS,” the release states.
According to the release, DFS had limited funding at the beginning of the LIEAP season, which allowed it to accept applications beginning Sept. 2. Since that time, LIEAP approved 1,168 Wyoming households this season with the limited funding that it had.
Those 1,168 households have been approved for the 2025–26 heating season and will be supported through May.
Those who want to apply for benefits should do so, and those who have already applied but have not received approval should continue to comply with the verification process.
LIEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible families in Wyoming, as well as individuals and seniors, pay a portion of their winter home heating costs.
Last year, LIEAP assisted 8,236 households in Wyoming. Assistance for the 2025–26 season began on Oct. 1.
“One DFS staff position is 100% funded by LIEAP,” the release states. “Some DFS staff positions are partially funded by LIEAP. The governor has announced that Wyoming will continue to fund state employee positions that were fully or partially federally funded; however, in the event of a prolonged shutdown, Wyoming will be forced to make decisions which may include suspending federally funded contracts and programs and/or furloughing federally funded state employees.”
The most recent federal government shutdown began on Oct. 1 due to Congress’s failure to pass funding legislation for 2026.
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