Deb Haaland Tours Center for Veterans Struggling with Homelessness

Tour is part of Haaland’s commitment to stand up for our nation’s veterans as the Trump Administration continues to gut benefits and services

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ahead of Veterans Day, Deb Haaland, candidate for governor of New Mexico toured the Veterans Integration Center in Albuquerque. During the tour, Haaland was briefed on veterans’ needs as they move from active service to veteran status. Haaland emphasized her plans to strengthen the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, fill the gaps in veterans programs after the Trump Administration slashed funding, create programs that formally recognize veterans’ transferable skills in the civilian workforce, and crack down on predatory businesses that try to exploit veterans.

“Our veterans have earned the right to come back to the benefits and resources that will put them on their feet, but right now threats from the Trump White House and inaction in Congress are taking those resources away. That’s why the state can strengthen our Department of Veteran Services and partner with places like the Veterans Integration Center to step up for those who risk everything to protect our country,” said Deb Haaland. 

Earlier this year, Common Defense, the largest grassroots membership organization of progressive veterans, endorsed Haaland and then Vets for Deb launched as a critical contributor to the campaign’s efforts to reach veterans who have been left behind by the current Presidential administration. At a speech previewing her economic agenda, Haaland also sounded the alarm about cuts to the Small Business Administration (SBA) programs that support veteran business owners and committed to ensuring New Mexico’s small businesses, including those owned by veterans, have the support they need to succeed.

So far the Trump Administration has terminated thousands of VA employees – and more cuts are planned before the end of the year. The staff cuts will be detrimental to services and programs that the VA provides to New Mexico’s 122,000+ veterans. In addition, 1.2 million veterans are part of families that receive food assistance through SNAP have been impacted by the Trump shutdown.