Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico will allocate $30 million in state funds beginning November 1 to support low-income residents who are set to lose federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has decided to suspend SNAP benefits for 42 million people across the country starting November 1. In New Mexico, this suspension will affect about 460,000 individuals, which is roughly 21 percent of the state's population and represents the highest participation rate nationwide.
“The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have abdicated their responsibility to Americans in need, so we’re stepping up to help New Mexicans,” said Lujan Grisham. “This $30 million in state funding will ensure that families, seniors, and children who need assistance will still be able to put food on their tables in November.”
The Health Care Authority will distribute the $30 million through existing EBT cards for eligible recipients on November 1. These funds are separate from federal SNAP resources and are intended to provide support for approximately the first ten days of November.
As part of its emergency response, the state is issuing forty executive orders authorizing $750,000 each—the maximum allowed under state law—and declaring a state of emergency. These orders also enable the Health Care Authority to deliver nutritional assistance to those eligible for SNAP. The state will continue accepting SNAP applications, with benefits linked to application dates once federal funding resumes. Collaboration with community organizations, food banks, and schools aims to reach vulnerable groups.
“I’ve heard from constituents who are worried about how they’ll feed their families next month,” said Lt. Gov. Howie Morales. “This $30 million investment means meals for children, groceries for seniors, and hope for families who’ve been abandoned by Republicans in Washington. I commend Gov. Lujan Grisham for taking decisive action.”
SNAP participants should expect state-funded support by Saturday covering about 30% of their usual monthly benefit; elderly and disabled recipients will receive at least $100.
Families can use any remaining funds already loaded onto EBT cards. Applications can be submitted online at YES.NM.GOV, by phone at 1-800-283-4465, or at any HCA Income Support Division office.
SNAP was created under the Food Stamp Act of 1964 as an anti-hunger program serving millions annually and generating economic activity by providing local benefits with every dollar spent. Normally, New Mexico receives between $80 million and $90 million each month from federal SNAP allocations.
“Hunger knows no party lines. Every New Mexican needs access to food, and I’m grateful the Governor is taking immediate action,” said Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo. “We will do everything in our power to help New Mexicans navigate this uncertainty.”
According to USDA guidance released in September before being removed from its website, multi-year contingency funds were available during lapses in funding—a practice used during previous shutdowns such as in 2018-2019—leaving over $5 billion accessible even after administrative costs out of an estimated $8 billion needed monthly nationwide.
“Governor Lujan Grisham’s emergency funding demonstrates the leadership and moral clarity that New Mexicans deserve. We will not stand by while the federal administration chooses to let our families, children, seniors, and veterans go hungry,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque).
“SNAP is a lifeline for families who are struggling, not a bargaining chip. New Mexico is not going to allow the Trump Administration to play political games that put children and families in our state at risk of starvation,” said New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque). “Once again, we’re coming together to step up for our friends and neighbors when they need it most, and once again, we’re showing the rest of the country the way forward.”
“New Mexico is doing all it can to help alleviate suffering that Republicans in Washington are inflicting on our communities, but no state—including New Mexico—can afford to bridge this massive funding gap indefinitely,” Lujan Grisham said. “It’s up to Congress and President Trump to do what’s right and restore this critical nutrition funding that millions of American rely on every day.”
