Rep. Vasquez Hears from Constituents About Harm of SNAP Cuts on New Mexico’s Kids and Seniors

Carlsbad, N.M. – On August 8, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) helped pack meals for seniors at Alejandro Ruiz Senior Center, which is funded by Southeast NM Community Action Corp (SNMCAC) in Carlsbad. After lunch, Rep. Vasquez met with leaders from SNMCAC and other local nonprofits, who expressed concern about how federal funding freezes and SNAP cuts are harming vulnerable populations in Southern New Mexico.

In early July, Republicans chose to slash $180 billion from SNAP benefits under their new tax law – the biggest cut to food assistance in American history – in order to give massive tax breaks to the wealthy. As a result, over 175,000 New Mexicans could lose the ability to afford the groceries they need to feed themselves and their families. The majority of people receiving SNAP are children, seniors, and people with disabilities. In addition to providing services for seniors, SNMCAC also operates Head Start and early childhood programs. 

“It just seems that seniors and children are the ones getting pushed onto the back burner, and they’re the most vulnerable populations that we have. Children of course have no choice. I really hate to see Head Start and education programs go away because a lot of times that’s the only meal for some of these kids, just like these seniors. Other than this, it might be a bowl of cereal,” said Angela Courter, Regional Manager at Non-Metro New Mexico Agency on Aging. “It’s not an abuse of funding to feed these little kids. If you see for yourself the condition that these seniors are living in, it’s not an abuse of funding to feed them. This is 115,565 meals a year that could go away, and who would feed these people?” 

“I think we can all agree that we want to end fraud, waste, and abuse in every federal program, but the administration’s current sloppy and arbitrary approach isn’t the way to do it. It’s just not,” said Vasquez. “The folks that are making these decisions don’t really know what they’re doing or what the trickle-down impact is in our communities. We’ve got to put an end to that…and I’ll continue to fight for a full budget and to protect these funding streams.” 

WATCH RECORDING OF MEETING HERE

This meeting built on Rep. Vasquez’s visit the day prior with leaders and students at Hobbs High School. At Hobbs High School, the discussion focused on the impact federal SNAP cuts imposed by the new Republican tax law were having on their school community. Sonya Moore, the Nutritional Services Coordinator for Hobbs Municipal Schools, expressed deep concerns about increased cost pressures on the schools’ free lunch programs. 

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