Rep. Gabe Vasquez Pushes New Mexico to Strengthen SNAP Accountability, Protect Families and Taxpayers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On June 26, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) sent a letter to the New Mexico Health Care Authority urging the agency to quickly implement recommendations from the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) to improve the state's administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), reduce the state's payment error rate (which is the third-highest in the nation), and protect New Mexico from losing up to $173 million in federal funding annually.

Rep. Vasquez strongly opposed the SNAP cuts included in last year's Republican tax law, and he emphasized that New Mexico must take immediate action to improve program accuracy, ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, and protect the long-term availability of food assistance for families who depend on it.

"HCA must take lowering the SNAP error rate seriously to protect this vital program for New Mexicans struggling to put food on the table and guard the state's budget from harmful impacts," Vasquez wrote.

New Mexico currently has the third-highest SNAP payment error rate in the country at 16.81 percent. Under changes enacted in the Republican tax law, states with persistently high error rates could be required to shoulder a larger share of SNAP costs, putting up to $173 million in federal funding to New Mexico at risk each year if improvements are not made.

In his letter, Vasquez emphasized that he is committed to working with HCA to strengthen staff training, improve consistency across field offices, increase oversight, and leverage technology to verify data and reduce administrative errors.

"When New Mexicans pay their taxes, they deserve to know that their hard-earned dollars are being spent responsibly, lawfully, and for the good of the public. We must do better to maintain the public's trust in government," Vasquez added.

Vasquez also highlighted the LFC's findings that many of the necessary reforms are straightforward and achievable, saying "Many of the changes that the LFC recommended are common sense."

The Congressman pledged to work alongside the state to strengthen SNAP administration to protect long-term access to food assistance for New Mexico families.

"New Mexico must do everything possible to protect and properly allocate taxpayer dollars while supporting SNAP recipients," Vasquez wrote. "I am committed to working with the state to increase caseworker training, provide support for better technology, and improve data efficiency in benefit approval."

Last year, Vasquez voted against the Republican tax law (H.R. 1), which slashed $180 billion from food programs like SNAP and threatened vital food assistance for over 175,000 New Mexicans. The bill also cut support for Medicaid, jeopardizing healthcare access for more than 110,000 patients across New Mexico - 40,000 of those in Rep. Vasquez's district - and risking the closure of eight rural hospitals serving patients in Rep. Vasquez's district. All these cuts to programs hardworking New Mexicans rely on were made to fund tax cuts for wealthy elites.

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