Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s March 24 statement to reporters affirms Trump’s efforts to lay off Nevadans’ federal jobs, eliminate the Department of Education (a nearly 50% reduction in its workforce), and Medicaid cuts.
On February 25, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and Mat Brown, reporting for the Associated Press (AP), noted that House Republicans voted to potentially eliminate $880 billion or more from Medicaid in their budget proposal. That move would be necessary for Trump-led Republicans to pay for wealthy tax breaks and border security.
On February 28, Lucia Starbuck, reporting for KUNR Public Radio, said that One in four Nevadans receive Medicaid, which covers about 42% of births and 60% of nursing home residents.
In the meantime, Elon Musk, for the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency (DODGE), in his first move to eliminate Social Security in Nevada, announced plans to destroy the Las Vegas Social Security Office to save $16,352.[1]
In addition, Musk’s cutting National Park Service employees across the state, including more than a dozen at Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreation (the ninth most-visited site in the country), has an economic impact of $358 million on Nevada’s economy.
– Some of them were responsible for testing for toxicity levels in the water.
Musk’s DOGE is cutting an Indian Health Service center and Bureau of Indian Affairs location in Elko that provides primary care to over 11,000 patients from four Native colonies and three reservations.
And, of course, Musk is firing Forest Service workers who work to prevent and manage forest fires, increasing the risk of deadly wildfires.
In addition, Trump has moved to eliminate medical research funding going to Nevada universities.
Democratic U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada have sent letters to federal departments seeking data.
[1] Elon Musk firing veterans and made cuts to the VA. Veterans account for about 34% of the nearly 14,000 civilian federal employees in the state.