The far-left Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham administration is under fire after quietly implementing a sweeping new email deletion policy that critics warn could block the public from accessing vital records and communications within state government.
As first reported last week, the New Mexico Department of Information Technology (DoIT) drastically reduced the time deleted emails are kept on file, from one year to just 30 days. After that, they will be “permanently purged,” eliminating the opportunity for journalists, watchdog groups, and citizens to request or recover those communications under public records laws.
A memo obtained by The Santa Fe New Mexican confirms that the policy applies to the “Executive Branch Microsoft 365 tenant,” a technical term encompassing all cabinet-level agencies and their affiliated offices—essentially every agency directly under Gov. Lujan Grisham’s control.
Pressed for details, DoIT offered a statement soaked in bureaucratic jargon. But the intent behind the move couldn’t be clearer: erase the digital paper trail as quickly as possible and make it harder for the public to hold the government accountable.
“DoIT recently made a change to the default period during which deleted emails are retained before they are permanently deleted,” the agency said. “This was to better manage the state’s digital storage space and avoid unnecessary retention of emails that do not fall under the records retention requirements of the State Commission of Public Records Rule 1.21.2 NMAC.”
In other words, the administration claims it’s about saving space—yet this so-called “efficiency” comes at the expense of transparency. Critics say the new rule could allow public officials to delete sensitive communications and wait out the 30-day clock before anyone knows to request them.
Worse still, DoIT put the burden on individual agencies to request longer retention periods if they “feel” they need more time to back up essential records. “If an agency feels that they cannot back up all emails that should not have been deleted within thirty days,” the department noted, “they can contact DoIT and DoIT will set a longer retention time for that agency.”
The move appears designed to create confusion and loopholes, allowing selective preservation of records while giving agencies under Lujan Grisham’s control cover to delete inconvenient emails quickly and quietly.
“It is the responsibility of each agency to manage its own records,” DoIT concluded, effectively shielding the governor from responsibility if critical documents vanish.
With this new policy, the Lujan Grisham regime has laid the groundwork for an iron curtain of secrecy over state government. It’s a calculated step away from transparency and a slap in the face to every New Mexican who expects honesty and openness from public servants.
Storage space is very inexpensive and getting cheaper as time goes on. That excuse doesn’t hold water.
how is this possible or legal ? she is covering her ass as her term comes to an end. is there any law and order in blue states any more ? HELL NO. the latest scheme from the democrat party. an incredible low, even for a despicable phony like MLG.
Nothing good comes of this. There is an infinite storage space out there. This reeks of corruptive practices. It’s not even a cost burden either, it’s actually free. I’ve known people in DoIt… they can create an infinite amount of storage and they know it.
The NMSP, who controls access to FINCEN data, the NMGCB, who control and monitor the casinos, tribes included, should never have any data control,alt,deleted…
Absolutely reeks of a corruptive practice…
Obviously MLG has something BIG to hide or she wouldn’t have come up with a plan such as this. YUP. Leave it to MLG to cover her butt and this plan is to keep her out of prison if all her actions in the NM government is found out. This is PROOF that she has been dragging NM thru the mud of her administration. Like pardoning her partners in crime before she leaves office. What a crooked
government’ official MLG is and she is proving it with this latest stunt.
heres a fun fact for all you lizard people out there. if you live in ABQ , the ABQ Police dept is using license plate readers that are located all over town. they store your license plate information as to where and when you car was for ONE YEAR. but if you are MLG doing official business, its 30 days ? Hows that for equity you deplorables ? NM is an embarrassment under democrat one party rule.
Clearly the policy of a tyrannical despot. Obfuscating her actions while there is a camera on every street corner.
One step closer to the communofascist police state.
This is what they mean by “transparency” – can you see things that are transparent?
If business is conducted over an email it is a record and subject to the appropriate NMAC. If it is transitory it can be deleted. What about business conducted via text messaging? Easier to hide communications with text messaging.
Wake me up when any of these corrupt Democrats are arrested. 😴💤💤