matter of life and death. Please provide us with a written response to the questions below no later than the next ten days. 1. Will you reinstate the staff who administer LIHEAP and reopen the office that administers this program? 2. When will HHS disburse the remaining $ 378 million that
Congress appropriated for the current fiscal year?
3. How many employees of DEA have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment offer since January 20, 2025? a. How many of these employees were responsible for, or assisted in, administering LIHEAP? b. How many of these employees worked in regional offices? Please provide information on the number of employees remaining at each regional office. c. How many employees responsible for, or assisting in, administering LIHEAP remain in force?
4. Which officials at HHS were involved in the staffing reduction decisions for DEA and what planning, if any, was undertaken prior to these reductions? Please describe the events that unfolded and name each office that was involved in the decision. Further, please name the official( s) who approved the staffing reductions as well as specifically indicate if any of the below individuals, or direct reports to these individuals, were involved in the decision-making. Name any such direct reports. a. Elon Musk, Special Government Employee, DOGE. b. Amy Gleason, Acting Administrator, DOGE. c. Andrew Gradison, Acting Assistant Secretary, ACF. 5. Please provide a detailed plan for how HHS plans to staff and oversee LIHEAP, including the plan to oversee states and territories in administering this program going forward and how you will ensure continued execution of its critical mission and also ensure no family loses access to utility assistance. a. Please describe how ACF plans to monitor the impact that these dismissals have on LIHEAP and the millions who rely on it. b. Please provide information on who will review and approve LIHEAP annual plans in a timely manner. c. Please provide information on who will carry out statutorily required data collection on LIHEAP. Sincerely, Bernard Sanders United States Senator Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions l FON www. fueloilnews. com | FUEL OIL NEWS | MAY 2025 19