Senator Luján and Governor Lujan Grisham Call Special Session to Sustain SNAP Benefits Amid Shutdown

Senator Luján and Governor Lujan Grisham Call Special Session to Sustain SNAP Benefits Amid Shutdown

Facing a federal freeze on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Senator Ben Ray Luján and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham have called for a special legislative session to protect food access for New Mexico’s most vulnerable residents. The one-day session, scheduled for Monday, November 10, will convene lawmakers in Santa Fe to approve up to $200 million in emergency funding to extend state-supported SNAP benefits through the end of the year.

This action follows the exhaustion of a $30 million emergency allocation that temporarily filled the gap left by the federal government’s suspension of SNAP distributions. Senator Luján, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, criticized the Trump administration’s refusal to release contingency USDA funds, despite court rulings affirming its legal obligation. “No family should go hungry because of political games,” Luján stated, urging federal officials to restore full funding.

Governor Lujan Grisham echoed the urgency: “We acted fast in October when the Trump administration abandoned New Mexican families, and now the legislature is coming back to finish the job.” She emphasized that while the state has the fiscal capacity to respond, it cannot indefinitely replace federal support.

SNAP is a lifeline for approximately 457,699 New Mexicans statewide, representing 21.49% of the population. The average monthly benefit per person is $176.51, totaling $80.79 million in federal aid each month.

Local impacts are especially acute in southern New Mexico:

• Doña Ana County: 28.1% of residents rely on SNAP, including thousands of children, seniors, and veterans. Casa de Peregrinos food bank reports a surge in demand as families brace for benefit delays.

• Otero County: 22.6% of residents live below the poverty line, and nearly 25% qualify for SNAP benefits, according to USDA and state outreach data.

• Lincoln County: 19.4% of residents are in poverty, and approximately 18% receive SNAP support, reflecting persistent food insecurity and limited access to affordable groceries.

The Health Care Authority is prepared to distribute benefits weekly until federal aid resumes. Democratic leaders have pledged support for the emergency measure, while some Republican legislators have criticized the move, calling for federal resolution instead.

As the holidays approach, state officials stress that the priority is clear: “Our responsibility is to ensure that families don’t go hungry waiting for this essential nutrition program to resume,” said Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo.

Sources:

SmartAsset SNAP Reliance and Benefits by State – 2025 Study

State of New Mexico SNAP Outreach State Plan – FFY 2025

Sen. Luján Press Release – November 2025

KOAT – Roadrunner Food Bank Prepares for SNAP Lapse

Yahoo News – Governor Calls Monday Special Session

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