Rosen Calls for “Fair Deal” for Ranchers, Expressed Concerns for NASF

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (NV-D) appeared before the Senate Armed Forces Committee on February 27. Rosen specifically addressed the Navy's Fallon Range Training Complex modernization project and issues surrounding housing shortages, infrastructure needs, and services for NASF personnel during the confirmation hearings for U.S. Navy Secretary Nominee John C. Phelan.

Phalen, a civilian businessman and financier, has been tapped by President Trump to offer a fresh, non-military perspective and his extensive business background to address some of the Navy's most pressing needs, which include issues like submarine construction, budget overruns, base revitalization needs. 

During the Senate confirmation hearings, the senator first expressed her pride in Naval Air Station Fallon's role in the U.S. Military, noting that some of the Navy's most prestigious training centers are part of NASF, including Top Gun and Navy SEAL training.

Rosen's first concern was the Fallon Range Training Complex( FRTC). Congress approved the FRTC expansion and modernization in 2023, which involved negotiations with federal agencies and local and tribal governments. Now that the expansion is underway, the reality of extending Navy land by 600,000 acres is hitting home. 

Rosen, who expressed grave concern for those impacted most immediately – ranches neighboring FRTC, asked Phelan to discuss lost property and grazing rights in the area and provide adequate compensation for their losses, which are now becoming evident.

Senator Rosen explained the Navy is currently in Phase I of this modernization and is currently working to meet the requirements under the law that grazing permit holders who will no longer be able to graze their livestock in the area will receive full and complete compensation for their lifetime of losses. "As the Navy goes through the process of appraising the loss of these permits, it is critical that my ranching community, our ranching community in Nevada, and Nevada stakeholders, are adequately and fully compensated," said Rosen. "Unfortunately, the first payment offers to ranchers in the B-16 range have been well below the estimated value of the land."

Rosen's concern is timely, as local rancher Jack Payne, owner of the Clan Alpine Ranch east of Fallon, borders Dixie Valley and the FRTC. According to Payne, in addition to the 600,000-acre expansion, the Navy recently sent him a letter informing him that they were claiming 439 acres of his recently purchased private land through eminent domain. Payne says he already struggles with Bureau of Land Management grazing permitting restraints; the loss of private land can be ruinous for ranchers who have no place to move their cattle when the BLM restricts grazing access. "The BLM forces us onto private land, and the Navy takes it," he adds, echoing concerns shared by many local ranchers. "It doesn't make sense." 

The FRTC issues will need to encompass several variables. "Appraisals must be, must consider FSA loans, groundwater availability, and the lifetime value permit and business," asserted Rosen, who said meetings between the Navy and impacted ranchers have been happening regularly, and these specific concerns have been raised extensively. She then asked Phelan, "Will you commit to reviewing and reassessing the Navy's payment offers based on the latest input your team in Northern Nevada has received to ensure that every single permittee holder in Nevada is made whole?"

Phelan responded, "I have a great appreciation for multi-generational owners of land and how they feel about it and trying to get the right thing. Fallon is a very, very important base. It's a critical training [base] both for air and for our SEALS." If confirmed, Phelan said he would look into this matter and "make sure that we create a fair deal for those landowners and for the American taxpayer."

Another area of consideration for Rosen was regarding the ongoing NASF housing shortage. "The base has been designated a remote-duty installation since 1989, and quality of life, and challenges accompany it," Rosen said, noting Fallon's remote location. "It is the only Navy base in the continental United States designated as a critical housing area." 

In addition to housing, the senator addressed NASF's need for improved infrastructure, "The Navy anticipates entering into a public-private venture to build 172 new homes in Fallon, but more infrastructure is needed to support the mission as we expand." She further noted the need for more firefighters and to expand our existing wastewater treatment management.

In her final question to Phelan, Rosen explained that with the FRTC modernization, the base is expected to grow by 35 percent. "So given the importance of the mission at Fallon, further critical services, childcare, medical care… will you meet with stakeholders so we can continue to grow Fallon and be sure that the services are there?" 

Phelan noted how important it is to Rosen to ensure all personnel at NASF have housing and their critical needs met, and committed, if confirmed, to look into these matters, acknowledging, "I know the housing shortage is real there, and we need to focus on it."

As of March 3, Phelan had not been confirmed as Secretary of the Navy.