Nevada State Workers Show Congressman How They Support the Most Vulnerable

AFSCME members at the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services give Rep. Steven Horsford a firsthand look at their critical work.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:02pm

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AFSCME members who work for the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services recently welcomed Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) to their worksite, where they showed him how they connect individuals to vital services like Medicaid and nutrition assistance. The visit came as the state grapples with the impact of federal cuts to these programs, which have created a backlog of 20,000 people waiting for help.

Why it matters

The visit highlights the important role that state workers play in supporting the most vulnerable members of their communities, even as they face growing challenges due to policy changes. It also underscores the value of unions like AFSCME in empowering workers to advocate for the resources and support they need to do their jobs effectively.

The details

During the visit, Dawn Ashford, a family support specialist and AFSCME Local 4041 member, explained to Rep. Horsford how the recent federal cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid have made her job more difficult, with each new application now taking up to two hours to process. Across the state, there is a backlog of 20,000 people waiting for assistance, and an estimated 43,000 Nevadans could lose their nutrition assistance in the coming weeks.

  • Earlier this month, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) visited the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services office in West Las Vegas.
  • The federal cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid that are beginning to take effect could result in 43,000 Nevadans losing their nutrition assistance in the next few weeks.

The players

Dawn Ashford

A family support specialist and member of AFSCME Local 4041 who works at the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services office.

Rep. Steven Horsford

A Democratic member of Congress representing Nevada's 4th congressional district and the co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus.

AFSCME Local 4041

The union representing workers at the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.

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What they’re saying

“It's a lot of work. It is challenging and things are changing rapidly. But we wouldn't be doing this if we didn't care.”

— Dawn Ashford, Family support specialist (afscme.org)

“Dawn, I really respect your work because it's the dignity in the work that you do and the compassion that you provide to these people who walk through these doors.”

— Rep. Steven Horsford (afscme.org)

“Right now, we have people who are trying to take our rights away, our freedoms away, and our opportunities away. But the power is in the people. When we show up and vote together, we win together. And that's how I think we can uplift all of our communities.”

— Rep. Steven Horsford (afscme.org)

What’s next

Rep. Horsford expressed his support for workers to come together and create unions through AFSCME, and reaffirmed his commitment to fighting against federal policies that undermine vital social services.

The takeaway

This visit highlights the critical role that state workers play in supporting vulnerable communities, even as they face growing challenges due to policy changes. It underscores the importance of unions in empowering workers to advocate for the resources and support they need to effectively serve the public.