Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo Faces Controversy Over Business Executive Relations
The actions of Governor Joe Lombardo have come under scrutiny following allegations of favoritism towards Steve Davis, a business executive with a significant role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Since the beginning of the year, the DOGE has been responsible for implementing substantial reductions in federal programs that have adversely affected Nevada. This has led to a significant loss of jobs for federal employees in the region.
Steve Davis served as the de facto head of DOGE from January to May 2025. He was previously the president of The Boring Company (TBC), which is constructing an underground transportation system in Las Vegas using Tesla vehicles.
In December 2024, a training mishap in one of TBC’s tunnels resulted in two Clark County firefighters sustaining chemical burns, which left permanent scars. The same chemicals also injured TBC employees during the process.
The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposed a $400,000 fine on TBC for unsafe working conditions and inadequate protective equipment for workers. According to Fortune, Davis contacted Lombardo’s office shortly after the fine was issued, and the penalties were later rescinded without much explanation.
Mike Pilchner, a retired member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, expressed his concerns to KVVU, stating, “I’m deeply alarmed by what appears to be interference in Nevada’s workplace safety.”
Governor Lombardo has previously appreciated Davis’ initiatives with DOGE. In February 2025, his press office released a statement quoting him, “We need DOGE reforms in Nevada!”
Davis has been an advocate for reducing federal funding, including a significant $120 million cut that impacted Nevada universities’ research on drug overdoses.
Additionally, DOGE axed an $8.4 million grant aimed at supporting the mental health of homeless children in Nevada, leaving approximately 15,000 children with unstable housing, as reported by the Nevada Home Alliance.
In a sweeping move in March, DOGE terminated all General Services Administration (GSA) employees in Nevada, including those who monitored drinking water quality at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, as noted by 8 News Now.
Similarly, personnel from the USDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Nevada were dismissed.
Although Davis no longer officially serves at DOGE, reports suggest he continues to influence its critical decisions.
As Governor Lombardo prepares for his reelection campaign, his potential Democratic rival appears to be the state Attorney General, Aaron Ford.
The original article can be found here at the American Journal News.
