By Connor Currier, Kiser Davis and Ryan Grossetete
New Mexico depends on federal funding more than many other states and cuts made in Congress can have a big impact on programs here. But lawmakers and lobbyists aren’t sure yet what that’s going to look like.
“The frightening thing about the federal level right now is that it’s wildly unpredictable,” said Marshall Martinez, the executive director of Equality New Mexico, an LGBT advocacy group.
Only one week after his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order attempting to bar any support or funding for gender transitions for people under age 19. The president also used his joint address to Congress this week to highlight his anti-trans actions and agenda, boasting about an order “making it the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
New Mexico passed a law guaranteeing access to such care in 2023 but Martinez said he’s worried about losing federal support.
“I want the state to reserve enough money that state dollars can cover gender affirming care for trans people if federal dollars can’t,” Martinez said.
A budget is a statement about the values held by a family, a company, a state or country. And money matters, said one Roundhouse expert.
“You can never separate the money from the policy, because if there’s no money, there’s no policy,” said longtime lobbyist J.D. Bullington, remembering a catchphrase used by a former Richardson administration official.
One House Republican told News Port he supports Trump’s cost-cutting moves in general. “We have to give him credit for doing what he ran on,” said Rep. Martin Zamora, R-Clovis. “Everytime I look at the budget, I think it’s too big.”
Still, Zamora said it’s too early to adjust spending plans here. “I’d rather just wait and see… what the state of New Mexico needs to make it, to keep the state operating and keep people in a good place as far as health, their food, their rent, their utilities,” he said.
I’m currently a Junior and an upcoming Journalism student at the University of New Mexico. My long-term goal is to be a war reporter and political investigative journalist. I’m passionate about the pursuit of truth and defending the people’s freedoms. I own a personal media brand called “Service and Engagement USA” on YouTube and Instagram where I dive into politics, culture, and trending news. My personal email is connorcurrier6@gmail.com for any inquiries.
