Charles Sallee, Director of the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), joined the program in an interview recorded just after he briefed lawmakers on the bill’s implications. The LFC, tasked with providing the Legislature with nonpartisan fiscal analysis and oversight, has been closely tracking the anticipated budget reductions and policy shifts out of Washington. Sallee emphasized that while the spending cuts will be phased in gradually rather than implemented all at once, their long-term consequences could be significant, particularly for rural areas and hospitals. He warned of rising numbers of uninsured residents and pointed to growing concern over the viability of hospitals in underserved regions.
Joining us in the studio, State Senator Linda Trujillo echoed those concerns. She spoke passionately about the looming threat to already fragile rural health systems, cautioning that closures in medical “deserts” could leave communities with no viable alternatives for care. Trujillo also drew attention to less understood but equally disruptive changes to SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Cuts to SNAP, she explained, won’t just affect families—they’ll ripple out to farmers, grocers, and local economies, likely driving up inflation and eroding purchasing power. In response, she and her legislative colleagues are taking proactive steps to revise the state budget and prepare for the fallout. While Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signaled, she may call a special legislative session, no date has been announced. One very positive inclusion in the bill is the inclusion of New Mexico downwinders in RECA (Radiation Exposure Compensation Act). While the details are still being finalized this has been a long-fought battle to provide justice to those families still impacted by the Trinity test, subsequent trials and mining of uranium.
Allan Oliver, president of the Thornburg Foundation, shared highlights from a recent report: The Impact of Federal Funding Changes on New Mexico’s Philanthropic Sector. One striking finding: 37% of New Mexico’s nonprofits rely on government grants, the sixth-highest rate in the nation. With such a large share of the state’s population living in rural areas, replacing lost federal dollars is no small task. Oliver also noted troubling delays in disbursing already obligated federal funds, which has created widespread uncertainty and, in many cases, forced layoffs and cuts to essential services. He called on the philanthropic community to consider rebalancing their giving, urging greater investment in New Mexico to meet rising needs close at home.
Host: Jim Falk
Co-Host: Peter Smith
Guests: State Senator Linda Trujillo, (NM 24th District)
Mr. Allan Oliver, President, The Thornburgh Foundation
Mr. Charles Sallee, Director, Legislative Finance Committee (recorded 7/3/25)
Links: Impact Of Federal Funding Changes On New Mexico’s Philanthropic Sector