While the stereotypical image of federal workers is often bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., the "Valentine’s Day Massacre" — the across-the-board firings of probationary federal employees — affected people all across the country.

Nevada is no exception. The state is home to nearly 14,000 civilian federal employees, from nuclear weapons researchers to park rangers to social workers for veterans.

While the extent of cuts in Nevada is still unclear, I talked to two federal employees who were fired last week as part of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s effort to reduce the size of the federal government. 

Both of the fired federal workers are concerned about their career prospects and have been stymied by the lack of answers from their former agencies. And they predicted slowdowns of services now that personnel have been cut.

Read the story here.

Around the Capitol

👶Rosen moves to protect birthright citizenship — As Trump’s executive order terminating birthright citizenship makes it way through the court system, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced a bill to prohibit federal funding from being used to implement the order.

In a press release, Rosen said the attempt to end birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. The “Born in the USA” Act, supported by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and eight other Senate Democrats, would go a step further toward preventing its enforcement. 

⚕️Medicaid messaging  — From Senate leadership to state legislators, Democrats are all in on messaging on Republicans’ planned cuts to Medicaid, which serves about 800,000 Nevadans. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), addressing the Legislature in Carson City, used a personal story to hammer home the message, speaking about his grandmother Grace Dorothy, who had a stroke when he was an infant and relied on Medicaid to live in nursing homes for 27 years. 

“The choices leaders like us make affect real people, and it’s important we center their stories,” Horsford told legislators. “Those closest to the pain should be at the center of shaping policy.”

💤Late-night vote-a-rama drama — Senate Republicans passed their budget — the first step toward unlocking the budget reconciliation method that allows them to pass a spending bill with only 50 votes — early Friday morning, after voting on dozens of amendments from Democrats meant to exact political pain from the GOP lawmakers.

Many amendments never got a vote, but Cortez Masto and Rosen introduced some Nevada-focused ones anyway. Rosen pushed for votes on provisions to fund federal firefighter hiring, including for seasonal firefighters, blocking provisions that reduce funding for critical travel agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration and fully funding the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program relied upon by rural counties with lots of federal land. 

The amendments are designed to create a record of embarrassing votes for Republicans that may be used by their Democratic opponents in future campaigns.

What I’m Reading

NBC News: Elon Musk’s first foray into high-level politics looked very different

To think it all started with Brian Sandoval.

The Nevada Independent: ‘Lives are at risk’: Federal funding cuts threaten Nevada drug overdose research

With policy changes at the National Institutes of Health in legal limbo, scientists in Nevada (and state lawmakers) are watching with concern.

Las Vegas Sun: Culinary Union backs Horsford’s plan to end subminimum wage, taxes on tips

As Republicans nail down their budget, Trump wants his campaign promise included — and Horsford and Culinary are trying to promote their own version.

Notable and Quotable

“I spent eight years serving in these halls. I know exactly how excited lawmakers are to pause their important work and hear from federal officials. You’re all polite, but you can’t fool me!”
— Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), a former state Senate majority leader, on the level of enthusiasm — or lack thereof — for the tradition of speeches from the congressional delegation to lawmakers in Carson City

Vote of the Week

P.N.12-35 — On the Nomination: Confirmation: Kashyap Patel, of Nevada, to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Patel, who lists a GOP megadonor’s Las Vegas home as his residence, was confirmed.

CORTEZ MASTO: No

ROSEN: No