Gov. Murphy declares state of emergency as SNAP remains uncertain
The state of emergency will go into effect at midnight
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Gov. Phil Murphy has signed an executive order to declare a state of emergency as the fate of the federal food assistance program remains uncertain.
[twitter] https://twitter.com/GovMurphy/status/1984385266333991184 [/twitter]
The state of emergency will go into effect at midnight on Nov. 1 as funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) expires amid the government shutdown. State officials say that more than 800,000 New Jersey residents rely on SNAP.
Two federal judges on Friday ruled that the Trump administration must continue funding SNAP during the shutdown.
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It wasn’t immediately clear how quickly the debit cards that beneficiaries use to buy groceries could be reloaded after the ruling. That process often takes one to two weeks.
Amid the uncertainty, Murphy also established a Task Force on the Federal Suspension of SNAP Benefits. He says the task force will be responsible for coordinating New Jersey’s response to “the acute food insecurity crisis caused by the federal government shutdown and the unprecedented suspension of SNAP benefits.”
[twitter] https://twitter.com/GovMurphy/status/1984355064719495277 [/twitter]
The task force will also compile resources for residents who receive SNAP to access affordable or free food.
Murphy says he encourages Garden State residents to visit nj211.org for statewide emergency resources.
