Press Releases

SANTA FE, NM– Congresswoman Leger Fernández (D-NM) released a statement slamming President Trump following the news that the Trump administration has turned its back on rural Americans by freezing critical U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding, including grants within the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements, which are especially important for New Mexico. Hard-working farmers, acequia parciantes, and small business owners rely on these federal investments to sustain their operations, conserve natural resources, and support economic development in rural communities. Traditional Land Grant communities have also fought for access to these federal funds.

Despite repeated assurances from the White House that the funding freeze would not impact direct benefits to farmers, reports show that funding remains frozen, leaving grant recipients in limbo. This reckless decision will have devastating consequences for New Mexico’s rural economy as farmers worry about planting crops without assurances that the federal government will be there to play its important role to support agriculture.

Under the Biden Administration, producers in New Mexico received $133.4 million total from EQIP. Pulling this funding from farmers and small businesses will not only cripple their ability to operate but will also cause ripple effects that hurt New Mexican businesses, jobs, and communities that rely on federal investment.

“Reneging on USDA’s funding commitments and arbitrarily stopping grant funding is reckless and hurts New Mexican farmers, ranchers, and acequia parciantes,” said Leger Fernández. “This decision is not just about numbers—it’s about real people, real jobs, and real livelihoods. Democrats made the largest investments in rural America since the New Deal because we believe in strengthening our small towns, our farms, and our rural businesses. We fought for resources to equip farmers and ranchers with the resources they need. Trump abandoned them in less than a month. By freezing these grants, his administration is betraying the very people they claim to support. I will continue to fight for these funds and rural America every day.”

A federal judge directed the Trump administration to restart the funding it froze. Yet, over the weekend, farmers reported that Trump continues to block their funding, demonstrating yet another broken promise from Trump.

“This latest betrayal comes as farmers also brace for new trade wars and foreign-aid spending freezes that hurt their bottom lines. No President, including Trump, has the right to stop funding authorized by Congress. Because we are closest to the people, we know how important this funding is and our Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse,” said Leger Fernández.

Trump stalled programs like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements, which connects historically underserved communities with essential programs like the Emergency Watershed Protection Program and EQIP. Acequia systems, which are foundational to New Mexico’s heritage, benefited from this funding and now face an uncertain future due to Trump’s failure to uphold USDA’s funding commitments.

“The freeze on federal funds is having a devastating impact on acequias recovering from disasters,” said Paula Garcia, Executive Director of the New Mexico Acequia Association. “In 2024, we assisted nearly 40 acequias in Lincoln and Rio Arriba counties through a cooperative agreement with the NRCS. Without reimbursement for this work and continued funding, our ability to aid in disaster response to fires and floods is seriously diminished.”

“Democrats will not stop fighting for rural America. We will continue pushing to restore funding in the courts and in the court of public opinion. We must protect our farmers, and make sure that economic development in rural communities does not become another casualty of Trump’s disastrous policies,” said Leger Fernandez.