Why won’t NM help feds root out SNAP fraud?
According to this morning’s Albuquerque Journal (Thursday, December 4, 2025), the Lujan Grisham Administration is planning to fight the Trump Administration in court over basic information relating to SNAP (food stamp) beneficiaries. As the article points out:
- SNAP is paid for 100% by the federal government with the states and feds sharing administrative costs;
- More than 21% of New Mexicans receive SNAP benefits, that’s more than any other state in the nation by a lot;
- New Mexico’s error rate is the nation’s fourth-highest at 14.6%. The error rate refers to accidental overpayments or underpayments of benefits, but does not include fraud or theft. One recent story in New Mexico media highlighted how SNAP benefits were being used to purchase fentanyl. A second story highlighted a woman who had been on SNAP since the 1990s. Neither one would be included in that 14.6% error rate.
So, is this just another case of New Mexico politicians fighting Trump no matter what? Yes, it certainly seems that way. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that SNAP is “free” money for New Mexico politicians. Since SNAP is 100% federally-funded and pumps a mind blowing $1.03 billion into New Mexico with few strings attached it is hardly a surprise that New Mexico’s economically-ignorant politicians would consider this “economic development” and fight tooth and nail to keep the money flowing.
At the Rio Grande Foundation we believe that SNAP should be a state, not federal program. The incentives for states like New Mexico to game the system are simply too strong. Hopefully New Mexico loses its lawsuit, but real SNAP reform must come from Congress.