Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior and former congresswoman from New Mexico, has recently used her social media platform to criticize actions taken by the Trump administration regarding federal assistance programs, environmental protections, and disaster relief.
On November 8, 2025, Haaland posted on X: "Trump is so desperate to gut SNAP, he’s using the Supreme Court to do his bidding, and they’re going along with it. Disgusting. Politics shouldn’t determine your next meal." In this statement, she expressed concern over perceived efforts to reduce funding or access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program that provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income people in the United States.
Two days later, on November 10, 2025, Haaland commented on land protection issues: "The Trump Administration is once again putting profits over people. He's ignoring communities that worked for decades to protect it. Chaco is not for sale, it's a living landscape, sacred to many and irreplacabe." This post referred to ongoing debates about oil and gas development near Chaco Canyon in New Mexico—a site considered sacred by several Indigenous groups and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Later that same day, Haaland addressed disaster relief efforts in Ruidoso: "I saw the devastation in Ruidoso firsthand. My team and I brought supplies and support, but it was clear the community needs more. Withholding FEMA aid is shameful — this money was promised to families still struggling to rebuild." She criticized delays or withholding of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds intended for families affected by recent disasters in the area.
The Trump administration has previously faced criticism from advocacy groups regarding proposed changes to SNAP eligibility requirements that could result in millions losing benefits ([source](https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/trump-administrations-snap-changes-would-increase-hunger-and-hardship)). Efforts related to oil and gas leasing near Chaco Canyon have been controversial; Native American tribes and environmentalists have long opposed expanded drilling near the historic site ([source](https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm)). In addition, FEMA's role in providing timely disaster assistance has been scrutinized following major natural disasters across the country.
These statements from Deb Haaland reflect ongoing debates about federal policy decisions affecting nutrition assistance programs, cultural heritage sites like Chaco Canyon, and disaster recovery funding.
