How the Sequester Impacts New Jersey

On Sunday the White House released a state by state breakdown of the impact of the sequester, a series of forced budget cuts which will go into effect on March 1 if Congress can’t reach a compromise.

The White House stated the following:

If sequestration were to take effect, some examples of the impacts on New Jersey this year alone are:

Teachers and Schools: New Jersey will lose approximately $11.7 in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 160 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 15,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 60 fewer schools would receive funding.

Education for Children with Disabilities: In addition, New Jersey will lose approximately $17 million in funds for about 210 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.

Work-Study Jobs: Around 1,480 fewer low income students in New Jersey would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college and around 650 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college.

Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 1,300 children in New Jersey, reducing access to critical early education.

Protections for Clean Air and Clean Water: New Jersey would lose about $4,891,000 in environmental funding to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste. In addition, New Jersey could lose another $472,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

Military Readiness: In New Jersey, approximately 11,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $75 million in total.

Army: Base operation funding would be cut by about $52 million in New Jersey.

Air Force: Funding for Air Force operations in New Jersey would be cut by about $7 million.

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds for Crime Prevention and Prosecution: New Jersey will lose about $336,000 in Justice Assistance Grants that support law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.

Child Care: Up to 600 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.

Vaccines for Children: In New Jersey around 3,930 fewer children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B due to reduced funding for vaccinations of about $268,000.

Public Health: New Jersey will lose approximately $840,000 in funds to help upgrade its ability to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. In addition, New Jersey will lose about $2,330,000 in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 3100 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs. And the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services will lose about $752,000 resulting in around18,800 fewer HIV tests.

STOP Violence Against Women Program: New Jersey could lose up to $187,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 700 fewer victims being served.

Nutrition Assistance for Seniors: New Jersey would lose approximately $488,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.
 

READ: The sequester's impact on New Jersey

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