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BRIANNA: TONIGHT ON "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS," CONGESTION PRICING LIVES ANOTHER DAY.

A FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS WHITE HOUSE EFFORT TO END THE TECHNOLOGY PLAN IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN.

PLUS, A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IS FILED AGAINST FOUR NEW JERSEY STILLS OVER THEIR SO-CALLED SANCTUARY POLICIES.

>> THERE IS NOTHING WHAT RECEIVER THAT THE HOBOKEN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO IMPEDE, INTERFERE OR OBSTRUCT ANY OPERATIONS WHATSOEVER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BRIANNA: ALSO, THE U.S. SENATE WE PEELS AN EMISSION POLICY.

>> YOU WANT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN STATES AND THE FEDS AND CLEARLY AT THIS POINT YOU HAD A 180 FROM THE FEDS SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO PROMOTE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

WE'RE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

BRIANNA: AND WILL THE LATEST FEDERAL STAFFING CUTS HURT FORECASTS' ABILITY TO BOTH TRACK AND WARN ABOUT STORMS?

>> I WAS WITH NOAA FOR 35 YEARS AND WE NEVER REALLY FACE A SITUATION LIKE THIS SO IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY IF AND WHERE THERE'S A BREAKING POINT.

BRIANNA: "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" BEGINS RIGHT NOW.

♪ >> FROM NEW JERSEY PBS STUDIOS, THIS IS "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" WITH BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

BRIANNA: GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

I'M BRIANNA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN WITH A FEW OF TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES.

FIRST, THE CONGESTION PRICING BATTLE IS BACK IN COURT.

ATTORNEYS FOR THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY WENT BEFORE A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS MORNING MANY MORNING IN LOWER MANHATTAN WHERE THE COURT AGREED TO GIVE THE M.T.A.

A TEMPORARY ORDER AGAINSTNY ORDERS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

NEW YORK OFFICIALS AND IGNORED FOUR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MANS TO STOP THE PLANS.

SECRETARY DUFFY THREATENED TO CUT FUNDING FOR OTHER TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN AND AROUND NEW YORK IF THE FRESHMAN DOESN'T STOP.

THE M.T.A.

ALSO WANTS TO KEEP TOLLS ACTIVE DURING THIS LEGAL FIGHT.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, TRAFFIC IS DOWN 12% IN MANHATTAN'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT SINCE THE TOLL WENT INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY.

THE SECRETARY SAYS HE SEES I SEE AS A BURDEN.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE UNOFFICIAL START TO SUMMER GOT OFF TO A CHAOTIC START IN ONE JERSEY SHORE DOWN.

THREE PEOPLE WERE STABBED AND OTHERS INJURED OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY THEY ARRESTED 73 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 21 MINORS BETWEEN 6:00 A.M. FRIDAY AND 6:00 A.M. MONDAY FOR ROWDY BEHAVIOR, CAUSING THE POPULAR BOARDWALK TO BE SHUT DOWN TEMPORARILY.

THE STABBINGS OCCURRED IN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS AND POLICE MRS. SAY THEY'RE NOT RELATED.

LARGE GROUPS OF UNRULY TEAMS HAVE CAUSED PROBLEMS IN SHORE TOWNS IN RECENT YEARS, LEADING TO BEEFED UP POLICE PRESENCE AND STATE LEGISLATORS ARE CONSIDERING MULTIPLE BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE NEW PLANS FOR POP-UP PARTY AND OTHERS.

AND U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. IS ROLLING BACK COVID VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FOR KIDS AND PREGNANT WOMEN.

IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT'S MOVING COVID-19 VACCINE FROM A LIST OF SHOTS RECOMMENDED FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN AND EXPECTING MOTHERS.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THE DECISION WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR THOSE GROUPS TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST THE VIRUS BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL LIKELY NO LONGER PAY FOR THEM.

KENNEDY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH A VIDEO POSTED TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X.

THEY CALLED IT GOOD SCIENCE BUT DIDN'T OFF YOU EVER THIS I SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY THE CHANGE.

SCIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR BABIES ARE CONSIDERED AT HIGHER RISK FROM SEVERE COMPLICATIONS FROM COVID-19 VACATIONS.

IT ALSO SEEMS TO SKIRT THE USUALLY POLICY FOR VACCINATION GUIDANCE.

IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS SAWING FOUR NEW JERSEY STILLS ASK THEY'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS OVER THEIR SO-CALLED SANCTUARY POLICIES.

THEY TARGET JERSEY CITY, HOKE BROKEN, NEWARK AND PATTERSON.

SAYING THEY PREDICT POLICE FROM COOPERATING WITH ICE AGENTS.

THIS AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION BROUGHT CHARGES FOR LAMONICA MCIVER FOR HER ROLE AT A DETENTION CENTER EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ HAS THE DETAILS.

DAVID: THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS ITS SIGHTS SET ON NEW JERSEY, FROM THE FIRST ICE RAIDS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION TO THE ARREST AND RELEASE OF THE MAYOR, CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST A CONGRESSWOMAN AND NOISYING FOUR OF THE STATE'S LARGEST CITIES AND THEIR GOVERNING BODIES FOR THEIR SO-CALLED SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES.

ON GROUND THEY ARE IMPEDING THE ABILITY OF FEDERAL OFFICERS TO DO THEIR JOB, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY'RE BEING NEWARK, JERSEY CITY, PATTERSON AND HOBOKEN WHERE ROBBY BBHALLA IS THE MAYOR.

>> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE, NOT EVEN EVIDENCE ASSERTED TO BACK UP THAT ALGRADUATION.

THERE IS NOTHING WHAT RECEIVER THAT THE HOBOKEN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO IMPEDE, INTERFERE OR OBSTRUCT ANY OPERATIONS WHATSOEVER OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> LOCAL POLICE IN NEW JERSEY FUNCTION UNDER THE IMMIGRANT TRUST DIRECTIVE OF 2018 WHICH LITTLE BIT THE SHARING OF CITIZENSHIP STAT US AND OTHER INFORMATION IN MANY POLICE COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS.

PROGRESSIVES AND OTHER ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR THE DIRECTIVE OR CODIFIED INTO STATE LAW AS THE IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT.

DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE HAVE SLOW ROLLED THAT IDEA, THOUGH.

PART OF THEIR OVERALL LEARN TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CONCERNS ADVOCATES LIKE AMY TORRES OF THE NEW JERSEY ALLIANCE FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE.

>> WHAT'S REALLY WORRYING IS THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A PRIMARY AND WHIFF SOME CANDIDATES WHO SAY THEM SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT AND HOPE THAT IT'S IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THEY GET INTO OFFICE AND WE HAVE OTHER IMMIGRANTS, LEADING CANDIDATES ACCORDING TO THE POLLS WHO CLAIM THEY DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT MIGHT GET LITIGATED.

>> AN ARGUMENT TAEGU THATTORIAL CANDIDATE MIKIE SHERRILL IMMEDIATE RECENTLY.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TESTED BY REPUBLICAN APPOINTEES IN COURT.

>> I DISAGREE.

>> WHAT WE HAVE IS A COURT-TESTED ORDER AND ANY LEGISLATION OPENS THIS UP TO ATTACKS IN OUR COURT SYSTEM.

>> FOR REASONS REPUBLICANS, EVEN THOSE KNOT ENDORSED BY DONALD TRUMP, THE BILL IS PERFECT IN TONE AND TIMING.

>> WE ARE DEALING WITH A GOVERNOR AND A LEGISLATURE IN A LOT OF THESE STILLS THAT REFUSE TO OBEY THE FEDERAL LAW SO WE'RE SUFFERING AS A RESULT OF THIS SO I COMMEND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR ACTING.

THEY SAID THEY WOULD, THEY ARE.

>> AS RANDOM AS THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ABOUT WHO IT CHARGES, SAWS, DETAINS OR PARADORNS, IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH ENERGY WILL REMAIN BEHIND THESE EFFORTS AFTER U.S. ATTORNEY ALINA HABA'S INTERIM STATUS IS SAID TO EXPIRE IN JULY.

RIGHT NOW IT HAS DEMOCRATS PLAYING DEFENSE AGAIN ON AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO SERVE THEIR POLITICAL ENDS THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

BRIANNA: FOR MORE THAN THREE MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, STANDING TO LOSE THEIR FOOD ASSISTANCE BENEFITS UNDER A MASSIVE TAX AND SPENDING BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE LATE LAST WEEK.

NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SAYS THE BILL WILL INCREASE HASP IT COSTS STATES TO RUN SNAP, THE PROGRAM THAT OVERSEES THE BENEFITS.

IT SERVES MORE THAN 800,000 NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND IS THE FEDERAL CUTS WILL REQUIRE THE STATE AND COUNTIES TO COME UP WITH ROUGHLY $100 MILLION MORE PER YEAR TO KEEP THE PROGRAM ALIVE.

RAVEN AN TIANA REPORTS.

>> FOR EVERY MEAL THAT A FOOD BANK PROVIDES IN THIS COUNTRY, SNAP PROVIDES NINE.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MEET AN INCREASE OF MEET CAUSED BY THESE SNAP CUTS.

>> TRIANNA IS THE PERSPECTIVE AND C.E.O.

OF FULFILL, ONE OF SIX FOOD BANKS IN NEW JERSEY THAT HELPS SERVE MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE A MONTH.

SHE'S CONCERNED THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM COULD LEAVE MILLIONS WITHOUT ENOUGH TO EAT.

THEY COULD CUT THE PROGRAM BY POLL $330 BILLION MY 2034.

>> IT IS MASSIVIVELY -- MASSIVELY CONCERNING THAT THIS BILL WITH CUTS WHO ARE NOTHING SHORT OF CATASTROPHE RICK FOR PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON US FOR FOOD WAS ABLE TO PASS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> IT REQUIRES STATES TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF SNAP BENEFITS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND THEN THE BILL ALSO INCREASES THE STATE'S SHARE OF STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS, ANOTHER $100 MILLION.

NEW JERSEY'S THREE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO ALL VOTED FOR THE BILL SAY THAT SHIFTING MORE OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO STATES WILL ELIMINATE FRAUD AND ABUSE.

>> NO WAY YOU COULD DO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CUTTS AND HAVE IT NOT IMPACT THE STATES.

LET'S AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CUTS WILL IMPACT PARTICIPANTS, COUNTIES AND THE STATE.

>> ORGANIZE TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, NEW JERSEY'S SNAP ERROR RATE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 33% IN 2023, DRAWING CRITICISM OF THE PROGRAM.

HOWEVER THE USDA EMPHASIZED THAT THE PAYMENT ERRORS ARE NOT THE SAME AS FRAUD.

EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO REDUCE THE ERROR RATE.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM IS $2.5 BILLION IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE REAL AND RELEVANT.

I THINK ANYBODY WHO THINKS THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE IS USING THAT AS A TERM OF ART, AS THE WORDS THEY'RE WANT TO USE.

IF THERE IS FRAUD GOING ON, TELL US, WE WANT TO FIND IT.

>> UNDER THE BILL, WORK REQUIREMENTS IN THE PROGRAM WOULD BE EXPANDED.

INCLUDING EXPANDING AGES UP TO 65 FROM 64 CURRENTLY.

>> CHILDREN ARE IN HOUSEHOLDS THAT GET SNAP AND THEY END UP LOSING SNAP BECAUSE OF THESE CUTS AND CHANGES.

THEY COULD ALSO LOSE ACCESS TO FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT SCHOOL AND ELIGIBILITY FOR SOME OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ALSO PROVIDE VITAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE TO OUR KIDS.

>> LISA PITTS SAID THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO SNAP ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.

>> SO IN NEW JERSEY WE HAVE ABOUT 800,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE SNAP.

OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE SNAP, ABOUT ONE IN FIVE ARE OVER THE AGE OF 60 SO WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF OLDER ADULTS WHO MAY BE ON FIXED INCOMES WHO RELY ON SNAP.

HALF OF OUR SNAP FOLKS WHO RELY ON SNAP IN NEW JERSEY ARE CHILDREN SO WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NEED IN BIFF TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD AND PUFFS HEALTHY FOOD.

THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR OLDER ADULTS' HEALTH.

>> WHILE FOOD PRANKS AND ADVOCATES HAVE RAISED THEIR VARIOUSES, THE FUTURE HINGES ON THE OUTCOME OF ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS AND VOTES IN CONGRESS.

BRIANNA: IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS REPORT TONIGHT, THE U.S. SENATE DEALS A BLOW TO THE ELECTRIC CAR MARKET, VOTING LAST WEEK TO REPEAL A RULE ALLOWING CALIFORNIA TO BAN SALES OF GAS-POWERED CARS BY 2025.

THAT CREATED A RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

11 OTHER STATE, INCLUDING MCWERE SET TO FOLLOW IN CALIFORNIA'S FOOTSTEPS, REPRESENTING NEARLY 40% OF THE U.S. AUTO MARKET.

THOUGH GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS CALLED FOR HALF OF ALL NEW CAR SALES TO BE ELECTRICITY BY 2027 TO CURB GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND AIR POLITICIAN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE BILL ONCE IT LANDS ON ITS DESK, MEANING NEW JERSEY'S E.V.

RULE COULD BE DEAD BEFORE IT FULLY GETS OFF THE GROUND.

I'M JOINED BY DOUG O'MALLEY, THE DOOR OF ENVIRONMENT NEW JERSEY.

DOUG, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

I THINK THE QUESTION ON MOST PEOPLE'S MINDS IS HOW DOES THE SENATE'S DECISION TO REPEAL THIS RULE IN CALIFORNIA AFFECT NEW JERSEY'S CHANCES AND ALSO WAYS IN WHICH IT'S TRYING ADOPT ITS OWN ELECTRIC VEHICLE RULES?

>> I THINK THE KEY THING TO KNOW IS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON, NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN A CLEAN CAR LEADER FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES AND THIS WAS NO SURPRISE, WHETHER IT WAS A CONGRESSIONAL VOTE OR A REGULATION OR THROUGH LITIGATION, THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT NEW JERSEY'S LEADERSHIP WITH 11 OTHER STATES WAS GOING TO BE CHALLENGED.

BUT THE FACT IS, IT'S NOT 1990 ANYMORE.

WE HAVE A CONSTITUENCY OF MORE THAN00,000 NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS DRIVING E.V.

'S RIGHT NOW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE SEEN A GROWTH OVER THE COURSE, NOT JUST NEW JERSEY BUT IN OUR CLEAN CAR STATES -- WE'VE SEEN GROWTH QUADRUPLE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS SO WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ADOPTION THAT IS GETTING MARCH TO THE MASS PARTNER ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT'S DRIVEN THAT GROWTH, OF COURSE, IS WHAT NEW JERSEY HAS DOEREN.

WE HAVE STRONG E.V.

INCENTIVES THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

WE HAVE MORE AND MORE CHARGERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

NOT AS COMMON AS GAS STATIONS BUT GETTING EASIER TO PLUG IN ON THE GO AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, THE PRICE OF A TRADITIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE HAS BECOME A LOT FOR AFFORDABLE AND SOMETIMES IS AT PRICE PARITY OR EVEN CHEAPER THAN YOUR TRADITIONAL GAS POWERED CAR.

BRIANNA: BUT WON'T IT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE STATE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALSO COME INCENTIVES.

YOU KNOW THE STATE IS ABOUT 100,000-PLUS CARS BEHIND WHERE THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO BE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

DOES THIS NOT AFFECT THAT?

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES IN THE FACT THAT YOU WANT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATES AND THE FED AND CLEARLY AT THIS POINT YOU'VE HAD A 180 FROM THE FEDS SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TO PROMOTE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WE'RE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BUT THE CLEAN CARS STATES REPRESENT ABOUT 40% OF THE MARKET AND THAT ANNOUNCEMENT THEY MADE ON FRIDAY ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CLEAN CARS COALITION IS TO BASICALLY SAY WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY AND NEW JERSEY IS ONE OF THOSE STATES AND THE INVESTMENTS WE MADE ARE STARTING TO PAY OFF.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE NETS IN INFROM STRUCTURE AS WELL AS THROUGH REBATES SO CLEARLY HAVING THIS VOTE IN THE SENATE IS NOT A PLUS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THIS 200,000 E.V.

DRIVERS SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NEARLY 40% OF NEW JERSEY DRIVERS ARE E.V.

CURIOUS.

THEY'RE INTERESTED OF GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF AN EFFORT V. WITH THE NEXT PURCHASE AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THE CARS KEEP ON COMING OUT, CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS, THAT APPEAL TO YOUR TYPICAL DRIVER.

THIS IS NOT JUST LIKE A BUNCH OF PRIUSES DRIVING AROUND ANYMORE.

BRIANNA: RIGHT.

YOU REFERENCE THAT HAD MULTI-STATE EFFORT THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED ON TO ALONG WITH OTHER FOLKS.

IS THE CLIENT ALLIANCE FOR GOVERNORS.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT NEW JERSEY IS GOING TO CHANGE ITS CENTRAL IN TERMS OF REGULATIONS OR IN TERMS OF HOW IT GOES AT THIS?

OBVIOUSLY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHERE A LOT OF THIS IS COMING FROM.

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE WILL NEED TO BE A SHIFT JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THE FEDS ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HISTORICALLY NEW JERSEY HAS HAD STRONGER PROTECTIONINGS THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THE FEDERAL.

GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR BEDROCK PRINCIPLES AND IN THIS CASE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST SOURCES OF GROUND LEVEL AIR POLLUTION COMES FROM OUR CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS.

IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT TACKLING POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

THAT'S WHY NEW JERSEY IS NOT GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS FIGHT AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

BRIANNA: E.V.-CURIOUS.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE.

DOUG O'MALLEY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS.

>> THANKS, BRIANNA, APPRECIATE IT.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY RIVER VIEW JAZZ.

MAY 27 TO THE 31ST.

EVENT DETAILS ARE ONLINE AT JERSEYCITY JAZZ FESTIVAL.COM.

BRIANNA: METEOROLOGY EXPERTS ARE ISSUING AN URGENT WARMING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CUTS ARE THREATENING TO DISRUPT OPERATIONS AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE REPORT THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO RELY ON.

BOTH JOBS AND BUNTS HAVE BEEN SLASHED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, NOAA AND FEMA AS STATES LIKE NEW JERSEY HE'D INTO A HURRICANE SEASON WITH A LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY NOT FELT BEFORE.

BRENDA FLANIGAN REPORTS.

>> WE'RE PREDICTING AN ABOVE AVERAGE SEASON AGAIN IN 2025.

>> THE FORECAST, AN ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON.

THAT MEANS SIX TO 10 HURRICANES, THREE TO FIVE OF THEM MAJOR AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNED THE MONSTER CATEGORY 5'S NOW FAKE LESS THAN THREE DAYS TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY.

>> THE BIG ONES ARE HITTING US FAST.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PLAN EARLY.

>> FILE IS OF THE ESSENCE WHEN YOU'RE PREPARING FAR STORM.

>> JOE MAN GENE OVER LOST HIS HOME AND BUSINESS TO SUPERSTORM SANDY.

HE'S ALARMED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S RECENT STAFFING AND WASN'T CUTBACKS AT BOTH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND FEMA, AGENCIES THAT PREDICT AND RESPOND TO MAJOR STORMS.

>> THAT FIRST STORM THAT STRIKES IS GOING TO BE A TEST ON HOW WELL WITH AS LOCAL COMMUNITIES, LOCAL GRASSROOTS AND STATE AGENCIES RESPOND.

>> MOST OF NEW JERSEY DEPENDS ON FORECAST, FROMTH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY, ONE OF 122 NATIONWIDE.

AT LEAST EIGHT OFFICES CAN NO LONGER OPERATE AROUND THE CLOCK.

MOUNT HOLLY ESCAPED THOSE CUTS but it's reportedly been operating with four unfilled VAC SIS BUT ITS DIRECTOR ASSURED THE PUBLIC!

>> THE OFFICE IS FULLY STAFFED.

I'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES that they need to mak >> Thewarning goes out.

national weather service said in a statement it's updated ITS WEATHER OFFICES TO MANAGE DUE TO SHIFTING PERSONNEL RESOURCES AND CONTINUES TO ASSURE A CONTINUITY OF SERVICE FOR MISSION-CRITICAL functions.

I was with NOAA for 35 years and we never really faced a situation like this so it's har to know exactly, you know, if and where there's a breaking po Alan Girard took early retirement from the national weather service in March.

HE SAYS BUDGET AND STAFF cuts mean less weather data to work WITH, DEGRADED FORECASTS and higher stress.

THEY'VE MOVED SOME PEOPLE FROM SOME OF THE MORE HEAVILY STAFFE to some of the offices that are in more dire need.

as the resources continue to shrink, there's only so much you can do And if the radar isn't WORKING AND IF THE OH, NETWORKS AREN'T REPORTING WE'RE KIND OF >> StateLIND.

climatologist Dave Robinson fears new cutbacks like launching daily weather balloons TO COLLECT DAILY INFO WILL DAMAGE SHORT AND LONG-TERM ANALYSIS.

>> AND ALONG THE WAY CAN result in weakening of forecasts, be i a hurricane, a tornado, a chang in climate system, a drought, which New Jersey has just been >> And it wealth of Data.

impacts everybody's FORECASTS FROM NATIONAL TO LOCAL METEOROLOGISTS SIZING UP WEEKENDS DOWN THE JERSEY SHORE.

Yeah, I'm doing my own forecasting but I'm getting tha data from the national weather service and NOAA.

>> IT'S A FAMILIAR FIGHT but republican Governor Christie battled political held winds to get a $60 billion FROM A CONGRESS CONTROLLED BY HIS OWN PARTY.

>> I think it's easy to be a congressman when you don't to look pain and loss in the ey but when you have to look pain and loss in the eye like a governor does, you want to make sure you do everything you can to get the most help you can.

But the president suggested FEMA could "just go away."

LEAVING STATES IN CHARGE OF DISASTER RESPONSE.

HE ESTABLISHED A REVIEW COUNCIL TO CONSIDERING OPTIONS.

NEW JERSEY'S ORGANIZING PROJECT URGED THE PANEL TO boost resources noting FEMA is projected to run out of cash by >> Now the situation is will THEY BE ABLE TO ROLL THAT OUT?

ARE THERE ENOUGH STAFF to actually make that happen?

I don't know and that's very scar She said the federal government must step in after such a catas hurricane season starts June 1.

I'M BRENDA FLANIGAN, "NJ SPOTLIGHT News."

Brianna: That's going to do it for us tonight.

a reminder, you can download our podcast wherever you listen and watch us any time BY SUBSCRIBING TO THE NEW JERSEY SPOTLIGHT LIGHT NEWS channel.

plus, you can follow us on instagram and blue sky to stay up to date on all the state's big headlines.

I'm Brianna Vann for the entire team at "NJ Spotlight News," thanks for being with us.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> NGM INSURANCE GROUP.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE ASSOCIATION.

AND THE BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY RIVER VIEW JAZZ.

SUPPORTING THE JAZZ FESTIVAL MAY 27 THROUGH THE 31ST.

EVENT DETAILS ARE ONLINE AT JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL.COM.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE.

A CHANCE TO BE KNOWN AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJAE MEMBER.