In Case You Missed It, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) pushed the Trump Administration for detailed, public information regarding the impacts of President Trump’s federal funding freeze, hiring freeze, and terminations on Nevada – including to the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture. To date, the Trump administration has refused to respond.
The Requests:
On February 18, Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen (D-Nev.) sent two letters to the Trump administration regarding the President’s recent decision to terminate several thousand employees at the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). The Senators expressed deep concerns about the risks that these mass firings could have on the millions of acres of public lands in Nevada and demanded transparency about the projects the terminated employees had been responsible for. The Senators have not received a response.
On February 20, Cortez Masto and Rosen sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins demanding he provide answers on the mass terminations of personnel across the VA, specifically those in Nevada. The Senators asked for critical information on how these staff reductions could impact veterans and their ability to receive service in Nevada and across the United States. The Senators have not received a response.
On February 21, the Senators sent a letter to President Trump’s Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) regarding recent terminations of NNSA personnel. Given the NNSA’s role maintaining and modernizing the American nuclear stockpile, largely done at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), the senators expressed grave concern that the chaotic terminations could harm American national security.The Senators have not received a response.
On February 26, following reports that several U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees involved in bird flu response were fired, Senator Cortez Masto sent a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding vital answers on recent terminations and the Department’s response to bird flu outbreaks. The Senator has not received a response.
Senator Cortez Masto will continue to sound the alarm and demand answers from the Trump administration for policies that threaten the safety and wellbeing of Nevada families.
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