Nevada Assemblymembers Encourage Governor to Seek Out Fired Federal Workers

A handful of states—Hawaii, Pennsylvania and New York among them—are making a push to hire recently displaced federal workers to fill critical roles in state government.

A group of Nevada lawmakers want The Silver State to join that list.

As reported by Reno, Nev.-based KOLO 8 News, Nevada assemblymembers recently wrote a letter urging Gov. Joe Lombardo to hire federal workers let go as part of mass firings and layoffs for positions within Nevada state government.

In the letter, Speaker Steve Yeager, Speaker Pro-Tempore Daniele Monroe-Moreno and Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui “expressed concern for the state’s 20,000 federal workers,” reported KOLO 8 News’ Kevin Sheridan, “saying their sudden loss in employment leaves them without income or healthcare.”

The Assemblymembers also shared their fears that recent federal firings threaten to drive the state’s unemployment rate up, while urging Gov. Lombardo to “swiftly integrate them into vacant state roles,” Sheridan wrote, noting that Gov. Lombardo has since issued a statement responding to the Assemblymembers’ request.

“Under Gov. Lombardo, Nevada has seen record economic investment, led the nation in annual employment growth and added over 30,000 employees to its labor force,” according to the statement. “Gov. Lombardo simultaneously ordered state employees back to the office, implemented state hiring fairs, and modernized the state hiring process, which slashed the state vacancy rate from 25% to nearly 12%.”

The statement also encouraged federal employees in transition to apply for openings in Nevada state government, “where they can continue their service to our state and country. For Gov. Lombardo, state employment isn’t a political talking point. It’s been his focus since Day One. Instead of grandstanding, the Legislature would be better off focusing on their actual job: passing legislation for the betterment of Nevada.”