House Memorial 45

HOUSE MEMORIAL 45

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Andrea Romero and Angelica Rubio and Reena Szczepanski

and Christine Chandler and Derrick J. Lente

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF FEDERAL ACTIONS ON RESIDENTS OF NEW MEXICO AND ON THE STATE; REQUESTING A REPORT OF INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 

 

     WHEREAS, President Trump established the federal department of government efficiency, or "DOGE", by executive order on January 20, 2025; and

     WHEREAS, DOGE exists under the executive office of the president with DOGE teams established by the heads of federal agencies; and

     WHEREAS, President Trump requires the administrator of DOGE to report to the White House chief of staff; and

     WHEREAS, it is unclear who administers or has authority to administer DOGE, who is employed by DOGE and what qualifications and authority the administrator and employees have; and

     WHEREAS, neither DOGE nor President Trump has constitutional authority to cut or refuse to approve of federal expenditures that have been approved by the United States congress, and President Trump has only the authority to make recommendations on spending cuts to congress, which holds the federal power of the purse; and

     WHEREAS, nonetheless, billions of dollars have already been cut from multiple federal agencies and programs through the actions of President Trump's administration and possibly DOGE; and

     WHEREAS, DOGE's actions in recent weeks have created a risk of exposure of classified and other sensitive information that could jeopardize national security and violate Americans' privacy; and

     WHEREAS, according to press reports, DOGE inspectors have already gained access to: classified and confidential materials, including intelligence reports at the United States agency for international development; sensitive government payment systems, including for social security and medicare, at the United States department of the treasury; and federal personnel data from the United States office of personnel management; and

     WHEREAS, in the past several days, the scope of DOGE's access to federal agencies, systems and sensitive information only seems to be expanding, with reports indicating that DOGE has entered the United States department of labor, United States department of education, United States department of transportation and other agencies; and

     WHEREAS, Melanie Stansbury, a member of New Mexico's congressional delegation, has filed the federal "Nobody Elected Elon Musk Act" to ensure that Elon Musk and anyone in charge of DOGE is liable for claims against the federal government due to the actions that they are taking, including claims brought as a result of a violation of federal labor laws, data privacy laws, laws that protect national or domestic security, federal appropriations laws and any other statutes; and

     WHEREAS, tens of thousands of federal employees have lost their jobs in recent weeks and many more have elected to accept an offer of a so-called "deferred resignation", the terms of which are not entirely clear; and

     WHEREAS, it is not clear if the mass terminations of federal employees, including many New Mexico residents, or the cancellation of federal programs and expenditures, many of which affect the work, research and livelihoods of New Mexico residents, are in compliance with applicable law, but it is clear that New Mexico families are suffering as a result of the first several weeks of actions taken by President Trump and DOGE;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative finance committee be requested to investigate the impact of President Trump's and DOGE's actions and the terminations of federal employees on residents of New Mexico and on the work performed in the state funded by federal dollars; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative finance committee report the results of the committee's investigation and any recommendations related to mitigating the harms caused to the state to: the members of the legislative finance committee; the members of the interim committee that studies courts, corrections and justice; the members of the interim committee that studies economic and rural development and policy; the members of the interim New Mexico finance authority oversight committee; and the secretaries of each state cabinet department by July 31, 2025; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative finance committee, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate and the governor of New Mexico.

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