Trump's DOE restarts energy rebate program with controversial changes
Originally published Jun 2, 2026
By Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News · Ars Technica
AI-generated summary based on Ars Technica · Aggregated by OffScreenSpace · Human-reviewed and approved on Jun 2, 2026
Key points
- The Trump administration's DOE has removed support for switching from fossil fuels to electric heating in energy rebate programs.
- The updated guidance affects the HOMES and HEEHR programs, which provide rebates for energy-efficient home upgrades.
- The changes eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria in funding decisions and remove support for Biden's Justice40 initiative.
- Critics argue the new rules contradict the intent of Congress and deny relief to low-income households.
- The guidance requires insulation upgrades before rebates for appliances can be used.
The Trump administration's Department of Energy has updated its guidance for energy efficiency rebate programs, removing support for switching from fossil fuels to electricity for home heating. The new rules affect the $4.3 billion HOMES program and the $4.5 billion HEEHR program, which were initially designed to promote energy-efficient upgrades and support disadvantaged households. The changes follow legal challenges after Trump canceled the release of funds from Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Clean energy advocates have criticized the guidance as flawed and inconsistent with congressional intent. The updated rules also eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations in funding decisions and require insulation upgrades before appliance rebates can be used.
Read the original story: Ars Technica