New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham criticizes Trump for not approving flood cost reimbursement

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday urged President Donald Trump’s administration to authorize additional federal assistance to northern New Mexico communities recovering from widespread flooding.

Trump earlier this week declared a presidential disaster following floods that damaged thousands of homes in San Juan County and elsewhere, a declaration that authorized assistance from various federal agencies including debris removal from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, flood monitoring from the U.S. Geological Survey and drinking water testing from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

The federal assistance is directed to four counties and four pueblos that have endured widespread flooding since Oct. 22.

At least 10,000 homes remained “underwater” following flooding along the San Juan and Animas rivers in San Juan County, according to a disaster declaration request state emergency officials sent to Trump on Oct. 24, and dozens of homes in the Laguna, Jicarilla Apache, Zia and San Ildefonso Pueblos also incurred damage. 

Water levels were so high along some of the rivers that flood gauges broke, according to the declaration request, and levels broke records last set more than a century ago. 

But Trump’s declaration does not include assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that the governor’s office and members of the state’s congressional declaration specifically requested. Funding from FEMA’s public assistance program, which reimburses local and tribal governments for up to 75% of costs they incur for debris cleanup and emergency protection, is absent from the list of approved assistance.  

“The president has recognized what families in San Juan County already know: This is a disaster,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “What hasn’t come yet is the federal commitment to help pay for the response. FEMA should already be on the ground in New Mexico, and we can’t sit and wait for them with more storms on the way. New Mexico is now forced to cover these costs while pressing our case to Washington.”

Forecasters with the National Weather Service are predicting more flooding potential, including in some of the affected areas, beginning late Saturday through Monday morning. 

In a statement, the governor’s office contends that the public assistance program approval happened automatically in other federally declared disasters in New Mexico. As a result of the lack of FEMA funding, counties and tribal governments are footing the bill for costs that they cannot afford, Lujan Grisham said.

FEMA has authorized more than $422 million in public assistance funding to local governments following the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire in northern New Mexico, according to a Source NM review, as well as nearly $60 million in that funding following the South Fork and Salt Fires in the Ruidoso area. 

FEMA officials have not responded to Source NM’s requests for comment about the state’s request for public assistance funding, including an emailed request for comment Friday. The governor’s office’s statement Thursday said that state officials have received “indications that its request for federal financial assistance and personnel remains under consideration.”

The flooding in New Mexico this year could ultimately cost state and local governments at least $200 million, Lujan Grisham has said. 

‘A terrible crisis’: San Juan County officials describe widespread flooding impacts

In total, the governor has approved more than $55 million in state funding to address the emergency, including an additional round of $42.75 million she authorized Thursday through emergency executive orders.

Lujan Grisham concluded her statement Thursday by thanking first responders, including those who pulled families out of swift-moving water and off rooftops. At least 30 swiftwater rescues occurred in the hours following the flooding. 

“Our road crews cleared debris around the clock, and our counties and Tribal nations spent money they don’t have to keep people safe,” she said. “We’re planning now for the next storm, and we’ll keep working with our federal partners until that reimbursement is approved.”