KOAT 7 interview: Woman who has been on SNAP for three decades fumes (ABQ NM)

The Piñon Post ^ | November 3, 2025 | Piñon Post Staff

[CedarDave]

For Maggie Aragon, a New Mexico woman who’s relied on federal food assistance for more than 30 years, the moment her SNAP balance dropped to zero was life-altering, she says.

“When I heard, ‘Zero dollars,’ my chest went into my throat,” Aragon told KOAT 7 News, describing the fear and panic that set in when she discovered her benefits had been cut off due to the ongoing Democrat-led government shutdown. “It’s detrimental to my life.”

Aragon, who said she also depends on local food banks to survive, is one of tens of thousands of New Mexicans now facing uncertainty as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) runs out of funding. However, it shows the cracks in what is supposed to be a temporary system, letting people live off of SNAP for not just years, but decades. With New Mexico having the highest percentage of SNAP recipients in the nation, the effects of the shutdown are being felt most sharply here, making it a wake-up call.

According to federal data, Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, have voted at least 13 times against measures to reopen the government, keeping critical programs like SNAP and WIC unfunded for more than a month.

While Democrats such as Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) have tried to deflect blame, the reality is that their votes to block short-term spending bills directly caused the freeze. SNAP funds were already strained after a 40% program expansion under Joe Biden, which ballooned costs to record levels.

Revelations of widespread fraud and abuse in the SNAP program have further inflamed the situation. In a stunning admission this week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called for a complete overhaul of the EBT system following the exposure of massive corruption.

[CedarDave]

From the article: The funding freeze has left 460,000 New Mexicans with empty accounts.

[packrat35]

If she isn’t disabled, then I hope she never gets another dime. 30 years???

[central_va]

Peanut butter. Everyone can afford a jar.

[HYPOCRACY]

“When I heard, ‘Zero dollars,’ my chest went into my throat,”

Eat that, entitled scumbag.

[central_va]

For you snap slackers, just in case you didn’t know the zoo can be a great source of protein.

[Disambiguator]

Does she live in Espanola?

[Paladin2]

Is she a member of The Non-Working Class?

‘Rats love her for that?

[logi_cal869]

KOAT 7 interview: Woman who has been on SNAP for three decades fumes

Corrected:

KOAT 7 interview: Woman who has been on SNAP WELFARE THAT FEEDS for three decades fumes

[Pres Raygun]

Every US citizen should be given food stamps, but with one catch. You can only receive them for a total of 2 years of your life. Their purpose would be to help you through periods of unemployment. If you retire without using them, then you should receive a lump sum payment for you two years of unused food stamps.

[Night Hides Not]

ICE needs to pay her a visit.

[jacknhoo]

Pinto beans, fat back, rice, bananas, flour, eggs, yeast and determination are the only necessities to become self-reliant for 90% of these recipients.

Suck it up and work.

[Jamestown1630]

The article doesn’t tell much at all about her. It just uses her for a comment.

[MayflowerMadam]

Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Ahh, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mum, GET A JOB
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na

[100%FEDUP]

I wanna make sure I’m on the $4000 a month plan!

[RightOnTheBorder]

From the article: The funding freeze has left 460,000 New Mexicans with empty accounts.

For reference, there are slightly over 2 million people living in NM.

[AFB-XYZ]

“When I heard, ‘Zero dollars,’ my chest went into my throat,”

Too bad her ass didn't go out the door to look for some type of job. I've encountered quadriplegics who obtained gainful employment.

[Sequoyah101]

She’s just a name attached to your emotions if you are that gullible. She truly has no other purpose in life She is just another one of the millions who live in this country at the behest of the government and politicians paid for by money that is extorted from you and me

[ExSES]

I remember a diet of grits and cheese and fish which we caught. Black beans and rice as well. Didn't realize that was poverty until years later. Going to get blocks of cheese, bags of rice and beans as well as boxes of grits at the distribution point in Key West seemed normal as a kid! How times and peoples' demands change!

[MileHi]

Woman has been on SNAP for three decades

Milhi fumes

[Jamestown1630]

LOL!

I don’t think it’s ‘gullible’ to want to know more than the manipulative media provides.

(And you have no idea of what purpose she may have in life. I think that’s God’s purview.)