Rep. Gabe Vasquez Statement on Administration’s Illegal Decision to Withhold Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On October 1, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued the following statement after the rescissions package announced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

"The Administration is trampling on the Constitution by withholding funding approved by both parties in Congress," said Vasquez. "Freezing this funding illegally withholds critical funding for New Mexico, including for rural housing, minority-owned small businesses, and for our students. This senseless order hurts New Mexicans and undercuts the will of the people and the ability of Congress to do its job. No matter how hard the President tries, he has no right to change the delegation of powers outlined in the American Constitution."

This funding was approved with bipartisan support in Congress and is required to be allocated by the Administration by the end of the fiscal year. Instead, the Administration illegally issued a "pocket rescission," withholding nearly $1 billion in approved funding. Some of the funding utilized in New Mexico includes:

• Funding for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which provides students from migrant or seasonal farmworker families with academic support and counseling, allowing them to graduate high school and pursue higher education.
• Funding for the Housing and Urban Development Department to help New Mexicans learn how to buy, rent, or keep their homes.
• Funding for the Minority Business Development Agency, which helps minority businesses develop and grow throughout the state. One in four New Mexico businesses are minority-owned.
• Funding for the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that supports local nonprofit and immigration processing, including health care and legal services.

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