Nevada's new Republican governor rescinds COVID-19 mandates, addresses state workforce vacancies

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed his first two executive orders repealing all COVID-19 mandates from the Sisolak administration, and directing state leadership to address workforce vacancies and resume in-person office operations by July 1.

Today, I signed my first 2 executive orders.1. I repealed and rescinded the COVID mandates from the previous administration. 2. I called on state leadership to address state workforce vacancies and get state workers back to in person, normal office operations by July 1. pic.twitter.com/eAPeY5HH2f— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) January 7, 2023

Ben Kieckhefer, Lombardo's Chief of Staff, told 2 News that nearly one in four state positions are currently vacant, which indicates things are not getting done.

Executive Order 2023-002 directs the Department of Administration to "review and make recommendations with respect to hiring, retention and promotional rules and procedures related to State employment."

It also instructs the department to "transition the State workforce to pre-pandemic, normal and customary office conditions by July 1, 2023."

Lombard also reappointed former Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) director James Dzurenda, who was appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval in 2016 and resigned in 2019, according to News 3 LV.

NDOC has been operating with William Gittere as acting director since former director Charles Daniels was forced to resign after an inmate escaped from a state facility.

In total, Lombardo announced 17 cabinet appointments this week, 10 of whom remain from the Sisolak administration, according to The Nevada Independent.