AUGUSTA — As the federal government shutdown continues, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree says she’s worried that a program that helps low-income Mainers pay for their heating costs might not get funded this fall.

Pingree, a 1st District Democrat, told Spectrum News that she and other members of the New England delegation fight each year to ensure that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is funded.

Last year, Maine received $37.5 million for the program.

“The LIHEAP program is under assault every single budget cycle and usually the delegation fights back, we get the money replaced and we make sure the people who are dealing with the high cost of energy and the high cost of heating their homes don’t suffer through the winter,” Pingree said. 

But right now, there is no new federal budget in place and the shutdown that began Oct. 1 is continuing with little indication of progress toward a compromise.

Pingree is the only member of the Maine delegation who rejected the Republican budget, telling reporters earlier this month that she and other Democrats want to ensure that healthcare subsidies are extended before they approve a budget.

And when it comes to LIHEAP, Pingree is not only concerned about the budget impasse, but actions by President Donald Trump to cancel funds for Democratic strongholds.

Since the shutdown started, Trump has frozen or canceled nearly $28 billion for more than 200 projects, most of which are in Democratic cities and states, according to an analysis by The New York Times.  

“This year I’m terribly worried about what’s going to happen,” Pingree said. “The budget is a mess. The president continues to withhold funds and sometimes he just says ‘I’m going to punish the Democratic states’ so this is a big issue for New England.”