Nevada Current: Lombardo downplays concerns about impact of Trump tariffs
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
By: April Corbin Girnus - April 1, 2025 4:31 pm
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo on Tuesday downplayed concerns about the potential consequences of tariffs and other economic policies imposed by the Trump administration, saying Nevada will “make adjustments on the fly.”
Lombardo made his comments in Las Vegas at a press conference at a soon-to-open affordable housing complex for seniors, where he was highlighting his housing bill. The Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act, as Assembly Bill 540 has been named, will be heard by the Nevada State Legislature’s Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee on Wednesday night. It promises to leverage $250 million in state funds to support more than $1 billion of new housing projects.
When asked about Trump tariffs driving up the cost of constructing new homes, Lombardo acknowledged that “tariffs are the great unknown,” before pivoting to saying his housing legislation is designed to be flexible enough to react to the needs of developers.
“We’ll make adjustments on the fly,” he said.
Housing groups have warned that Trump tariffs on lumber, steel, aluminium and other key goods will increase the cost of constructing homes. The National Association of Home Builders, whose Southern Nevada affiliate participated in Lombardo’s press event Tuesday, have estimated that 7% of all goods used in new residential construction are imported.
When asked about Trump’s broader economic policies and their potential negative impact on Nevada’s economy, Lombardo responded that it is the obligation of the governor and the Legislature to identify the state’s needs and prioritize.
“You have to triage what your priorities are,” he said. “You have to identify what the problems are, what the priorities are, and housing is a priority. Housing is a priority and we’ll make adjustments within the state budget’s services.”
Lombardo in his response also alluded to recent conversations about potential cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. Those concerns, which were raised via letters and legislative hearings, are still pending as the federal budgeting process continues. Legislative Republicans have suggested they’d be more open to cutting services than raising revenue to backfill federal cuts.
Early data suggests international visitation to the United States is rapidly declining due to concerns about Trump’s trade wars, immigration enforcement without due process, and outlandish proposals to buy or take over other countries.
Lombardo, who was endorsed by Trump, has previously said that “Trump will bring down the rising costs of housing, groceries, and gas” and “oversee a new era of American prosperity.”
He expressed none of that enthusiasm Tuesday.
Comments