LAS CRUCES - Ramona Aranda worries about her husband, a New Mexico National Guard soldier assigned to the Guard's counterdrug program.

She also worries about other soldiers in the program and their families, too. Their collective futures are cloudy, as federal government earmarks to fund the highly successful program appear on the verge of being cut.

"The soldiers have been told that if the funding cannot be found they will not have jobs," Aranda said. "A lot of the families are single-income families with no other means of support. I don't know what's going to happen, a lot of the families I've had the chance to talk to are in a panic."

Neither does U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who has been a staunch supporter of the New Mexico National Guard, and its border counterdrug program. In the federal government's last two fiscal years, congressional funding for the counterdrug program has been at $3 million and $4.5 million.

But because of a growing federal deficit, the U.S. House of Representatives decided in December that it would not support any federal funding earmarks. The $6 million in federal funds designated for the counterdrug program were not approved, and counterdrug program's future becomes tenuous because the federal government is operating on a continuing resolution that will only pay for operations through February.

Bingaman spokeswoman Jude McCartin said the senator is frustrated with the House's reluctance to endorse the earmark for the program.

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Although there is some validity for concerns, Bingaman is hopeful that alternative sources of funding can be obtained to keep the program going.

"We are working to resolve this situation," McCartin said. "It is extremely unfortunate because the New Mexico National Guard's counterdrug program has been extremely successful. It is the epitome of the type of program that federal earmarks are designated for. In the last five years, the program has received $16 million in earmarks and it's been a substantial benefit to the Border Patrol.

"But House Republicans have refused to do any additional earmarks, and the $6 million intended for the counterdrug program was dead in December. Sen. Bingaman is now working to see if funding through either the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security can be obtained. He's optimistic that could happen; we have a very good case to make on behalf of the New Mexico National Guard."

The program has been multi-faceted by developing unique relationships at the city, county and state levels to assist law enforcement, social services, and community support groups. The program has also worked extensively in public schools by helping to educate students on the pitfalls of illegal drug use and activities.

Lt. Col. Jameson Herrera, spokesman for the New Mexico National Guard, said leaders of the volunteer, citizen Army have alerted soldiers in the program that it could be substantially scaled back if additional funding can't be sought. Approximately 130 soldiers are currently assigned to the program, and if the cuts materialize that number could be cut to as few as 20 soldiers.

"The soldiers would still be soldiers, they would still remain with the National Guard," Herrera said. "But their full-time job with the counterdrug program could be in jeopardy."

Herrera added if the reduction were to happen, it wouldn't affect the soldiers who were added for border protection last year when President Obama ordered more National Guard troops along the U.S. border with Mexico.

"Those 82 soldiers who were called up along our state's border are not affected at all," Herrera said.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452

Counterdrug program

•The New Mexico National Guard has been conducting a federally funded counterdrug program at the state's border with Mexico for more than 20 years.

•The counterdrug program helps prevent drug trafficking across New Mexico's border with Mexico.

•Current counterdrug duties conducted the by New Mexico National Guard include camera surveillance of high-traffic border areas, vehicle inspections and dismantling of those suspected of smuggling drugs, vehicle barrier construction, and at-risk school counterdrug education programs.

•About 130 soldiers are in the program.

•Although the program has been successful, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to approve legislation in December that would have continued to fund the program.

•If alternative funding sources cannot be found by Feb. 1, the program could be substantially reduced.

•As many as 110 soldiers could be reassigned to other duties.

•The New Mexico National Guard in online at www.nm.ngb.army.mil/index.html