LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — We have been working to get more information on this story after Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto sounded the alarm about layoffs in the General Services Administration (GSA) in Nevada.
A call to the local GSA office in Las Vegas wasn’t returned on Tuesday — neither were two messages to the GSA’s regional office in San Francisco or the administration’s headquarters in Washington D.C.
We know the GSA acts as the federal government’s purchasing department and landlord, managing five federal courthouses in the state, including two in downtown Las Vegas.
It may have come as a shock to many when Cortez Masto posted on X that President Donald Trump had fired all GSA employees in Nevada. Her post highlighted the duties of the GSA, including building security.
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In an interview Tuesday with Channel 13’s Justin Hinton, Cortez Masto said she’s demanding answers.
“As soon as possible, right? Any timeline. I mean, right now, I just want answers. And I’m going to keep asking the questions and demanding a response through the tools that I have so that I have those answers. It’s important that we know what is going on in the state of Nevada,” Cortez Masto told Hinton.
So far, we haven’t received official confirmation from anyone in the GSA or the Trump Administration about the layoffs, but in an email supplied by Cortez Masto’s office, the GSA administrator told employees they will be placed on 90 days of paid leave starting Monday.
The head of the National Federation of Federal Employees estimates about 175,000 federal workers have been laid off or forced into a deferred resignation.
The Office of Personnel Management said there are about 2.3 million federal employees in the workforce.
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Channel 13 Senior Political Reporter Steve Sebelius contributed to this report.
Do you have a question about the Nevada Legislature, politics or government? Write to us using the Ask Steve link on our website.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada above 5,000 feet and Yosemite National Park, above the Valley floor, from late tonight until Wednesday afternoon.
Heavy snow is forecast.
The snow levels will initially start out between 6,000 to 7,000 feet tonight, before lowering to 5,500 to 6,500 feet on Tuesday, and then down to 4,500 to 5,500 feet on Wednesday.
The heaviest snowfall is expected Tuesday afternoon and evening.
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Minor accumulations of up to two inches is possible down to 4500 feet. The total snow accumulations above the 7,000 foot elevation, will range from three inches to as much as two feet.
Southwest winds could gust as high as fifty to seventy-five mph along the highest peaks. Such strong winds could cause tree damage.
Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Persons should delay all travel if possible. Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Visibilities may drop below a quarter of a mile due to falling and blowing snow. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order.
Persons in the Watch Zone are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat.
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
