10 Ways The Government Shutdown Directly Impacted New Jersey

The federal shutdown that ended Friday directly impacted at the state level, authorities said this week. It wasn't just the flight delays at Newark International Airport that gave New Jerseyans grief.

The shutdown, which began Dec. 22, also impacted New Jerseyans who receive assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Gov. Phil Murphy said. It also caused big problems for the Coast Guard who weren't paid while they protected the Jersey Shore.

On Friday, Newark Liberty International Airport reported having significant delays of at least an hour caused by a shortage of air traffic controllers. Read more: Widespread Flight Delays Impact Newark Due To Gov't Shutdown

Three NJ Transit lines, meanwhile, have been down because safety improvements on those lines couldn't get approval from a federal government that's suffering staffing shortages.

Here's how New Jersey was impacted:

NJ Transit

Murphy and NJ Transit say several lines that are getting a new federally mandated safety system have been closed, according to nj.com, partly because of the federal shutdown.

The Atlantic City Line, Princeton Shuttle and direct Raritan Valley Line service have been shut down for months while the system is installed. However, “because of the federal shutdown, it’s not happened...We need FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) approval of a reboot (of the rail service),” Murphy told the publication.

Coast Guard's not getting paid

Murphy sent a letter to President Trump this past week, urging his administration to allow US Coast Guard servicemembers to receive federal food assistance through a SNAP.

Murphy said the federal government’s failure to provide Coast Guard servicemembers with paychecks on Jan. 15 marked the first time in history that servicemembers in a U.S. Armed Force have not been paid during a lapse in government appropriations.

“Our brave servicemembers continue to patrol New Jersey’s coastline and protect our country without pay due to President Trump’s shameful shutdown,” said Murphy.

SNAP benefits

The New Jersey Department of Human Services has announced that SNAP recipients were going to receive their February benefits early because of the continued federal government shutdown.

Recipients who received a SNAP benefit in January and were scheduled to receive the benefit again in February were expected to get them on Jan. 19 on their Families First Card.

“Due to President Trump’s shutdown, numerous federal programs that provide critical services to residents of New Jersey could be severely impacted,” said Murphy. “If the shutdown continues past February, 730,000 SNAP recipients will be affected. New Jersey’s top priority is to stand with our residents, and we urge the federal government to end this shutdown immediately.”

SNAP is a federal program administered by the Department of Human Services. It offers nutrition assistance to eligible individuals and families with low incomes. New Jersey has about 730,000 SNAP recipients.

Pay for federally funded employees

New Jersey asked potential creditors to back away from going after people impacted by the shutdown, particularly federal employees.

Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride issued a "bulletin" encouraging entities regulated by the department to work with and assist New Jersey residents affected by the federal government shutdown.

The bulletin was issued to all insurers, banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders and brokers, consumer lenders, insurance producers, real estate brokers, and any other person or entity subject to licensure or regulation by the department.

The department is encouraging these entities to consider the difficulties residents have endured and will continue to endure until the federal shutdown ends, and those affected begin to receive regular payments and are reimbursed for monies past due.

“We are almost a month into the federal shutdown. While paychecks have stopped for many New Jerseyans, bills have not. We are calling on banks, insurance companies and other pertinent entities to work with residents who are being unfairly punished by President Trump’s shutdown. We do not know when these families will be made whole again. We have to make every effort to minimize the financial impact on our residents who still have to provide for themselves and their families,” said Murphy.

The Women, Infants and Children Program

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) were not receiving federal funds during the shutdown, according to CBS News, but can continue to operate at the state and local level with any funding and commodity resources that remain available.

WIC is provided for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who fall within the poverty index and are at nutritional risk, according to CBS.

Immigration

Immigration courts closed during the shutdown, forcing judges to indefinitely postpone hearings scheduled months in advance, according to CBS. E-Verify, the government immigration system and database employers use to check and confirm that employees are eligible to work in the United States, was out of service during the shutdown.

School and daycare food programs

School and daycare food programs could have into problems in February if the shutdown continued.

The USDA says Child Nutrition Programs, including School Lunch, School Breakfast, Child and Adult Care Feeding, Summer Food Service and Special Milk, would expected to continue operations through February, according to RLS Media.

Health coverage

Consumers who signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act could have seen delays in coverage since the IRS, which signs off on subsidies, has had staffing issues, Kerry McKean Kelly, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Hospital Association, told The Asbury Park Press.

Sandy Hook

The National Park Service was furloughed and wasn't able to maintain roads, walkways or sidewalks, Mary-Beth Thompson, Clean Ocean Action's chief operating officer, told The Asbury Park Press.

With reporting by Kara Seymour

Image via Shutterstock