OPINION: Without federal action, New Mexico families and children will go hungry

Recently, we learned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will run out of SNAP food assistance funds due to the government shutdown and has instructed states to stop issuing SNAP benefits in November. This would be a loss of $90 million in food assistance for one month alone, and could leave over 450,000 New Mexicans — and children — hungry as we approach the holiday season and food prices remain high.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program. It reduces poverty, improves health and economic outcomes, supports people paid low wages and serves as the first line of defense against hunger during economic downturns. Currently, 1 in 5 New Mexicans receive SNAP benefits, and 61% of those are in families with children.

The average SNAP benefit per household is about $300 a month, and for families with children, it can be $500 a month. When so many families live paycheck to paycheck, losing that vital safety net will be more than most can handle.

By law, individuals who meet SNAP’s eligibility requirements are entitled to benefits. However, due to dysfunction in Congress, there is currently no full-year funding for SNAP benefits in an appropriations bill. USDA does have a contingency fund for benefits in an emergency, but the rules governing that process have never been triggered before — and the total funding available is only enough to cover a portion of all SNAP benefits for one month. Even with the contingency fund, USDA has not signaled that it will release those funds to ensure people don’t go hungry in the next few weeks.

And the bad news for SNAP doesn’t end there. The One Big Beautiful Bill expanded SNAP work and reporting requirements, including eliminating most pre-existing waivers, which could quickly result in tens of thousands of New Mexicans losing access to SNAP.

For years, counties with high unemployment received waivers from SNAP work and reporting requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, so participants wouldn’t be punished for job-market factors beyond their control. In New Mexico, 29 counties had such waivers due to higher-than-average unemployment rates. Once the new rules take effect, on Nov. 2, only Luna County will remain eligible for a waiver, and only 10 counties nationwide.

Starting Nov. 1, adults with young teens, older adults, unhoused individuals, veterans and people who have aged out of foster care will also face these work requirements. And, immigrants with protected status (such as refugees) will no longer be eligible for SNAP at all. To make things worse, if people don’t get enough hours, can’t find adequate work or don’t fill out paperwork correctly, they can be locked out of SNAP and only receive three months of benefits every three years.

Research shows that work requirements don’t increase workforce participation. People who qualify for SNAP are often working low-wage jobs with irregular hours, making it hard to meet requirements when they have little control over their schedules. Additionally, low-wage jobs are often cut during economic downturns, so being laid off or having hours cut could lead to losing SNAP benefits. Even people who work the required hours face burdensome paperwork, complex reporting systems and other bureaucratic hurdles that can lead to losing access even if they are otherwise eligible.

All of these changes and lapsed funding could lead to increased economic hardship, poorer health outcomes, children struggling in school and more hunger across the state. For families living on the edge, having hundreds pulled out of their monthly budget as grocery prices increase could also lead to increased housing insecurity and even the loss of their home.

Recently, our governor and legislative leaders approved funding to support food assistance programs. This includes $16.6 million to maintain SNAP food benefits, $8 million for food banks and pantries, $2 million for school-based food programs, and $1.5 million to help people meet work requirements. But these funds didn’t anticipate a prolonged government shutdown. Congress must get back to work, find a way to end the shutdown and fix these terrible changes to SNAP. And in the meantime, the Trump administration should use contingency funds and transfer authority to keep SNAP whole and families fed until the shutdown ends.