After saying that his “first priority” for spending the remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds would be on mental health programs, Joe Lombardo dodged questions about Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts to federal funding for mental health services and immunization – including free services for rural Nevadans. While Musk’s cuts caused nearly 50 people to lose their jobs and further strained the state’s already-stressed mental health and immunization infrastructure, Lombardo refused to stand up for Nevadans.
“Gov. Joe Lombardo, who emphasized a commitment to mental health matters in his State of the State speech in January, did not respond to requests for comment on whether he plans to replace the programs with state funding.” – Nevada Current
Following the Trump Administration’s decision to cut these funds, the Renown Health Crisis Care Center, Reno’s only dedicated mental health crisis center, has had to shut down. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said she was “irate” at the closure and planned to reach out to Lombardo’s office to ask why federal funds for mental health programs weren’t secured before the cuts were announced. Schieve said, “we all knew there was a possibility of ARPA funds being sent back” and questioned, “why the money wasn’t out the door knowing that this initiative to suspend everything was there?”
About 474,000 Nevadans experience mental health conditions, and the state ranks among the nation’s worst for access to care. Last week, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto sent a letter to the Trump administration demanding answers on cuts to critical mental health and immunization programs.
Nevada State Democratic Party spokesperson Tai Sims:
“Whether it be cuts to mental health programs or funding for public education, Joe Lombardo is willing to sell out the most vulnerable of Nevadans in order to help Trump and Elon Musk pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.”
###
