Sweeping layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have cast uncertainty over key federal programs serving older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income households. At least 40% of staff were let go from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the agency responsible for coordinating federal aging and disability services.
Many employees arrived at ACL offices on Tuesday only to be turned away. The agency oversees programs like Meals on Wheels, which distributes more than 200 million meals annually to seniors and people with disabilities. With significant staff reductions, the capacity to manage and fund these initiatives is now in question.
The cuts come amid a restructuring of federal roles, with ACL’s responsibilities reportedly being reassigned within HHS. However, it remains unclear who will carry out the agency’s critical work moving forward, including efforts once slated to expand under proposals like Project 2025.
Meanwhile, the Division of Energy Assistance, which administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), saw all of its federal staff laid off. The program supports nearly six million households annually, helping vulnerable individuals pay utility bills, maintain medical equipment, and improve energy efficiency. Without staff to oversee operations and ensure compliance, the program faces an uncertain future once its current $4.1 billion budget expires in September.
Source: NPR
Please support the Adams County Office for Aging. They are the local agency responsible for meals on wheels. Cutting these services at the federal level will impact local services.