By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey woke up Wednesday to the start of a federal government shutdown after lawmakers in Washington failed to reach a funding deal overnight. 
The shutdown immediately put pressure on Newark and other cities with large numbers of federal workers.
At Newark Liberty International Airport, TSA officers and air traffic controllers reported for duty without pay, raising fears that call-outs could disrupt travel and lengthen security lines.
Newark has already faced staffing shortages and flight delays, and the shutdown threatens to intensify those problems.
Federal landmarks are also impacted. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, two of New Jersey and New York’s most visited sites, were closed to the public, cutting off a major source of tourism revenue for the region.
Communities across the state braced for cuts.
Municipalities that rely on federal grants for housing, policing, and infrastructure are reviewing budgets to prepare for shortfalls.
Food banks, including the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, said they are expanding services to help furloughed workers and low-income families absorb the hit.
In Newark, city officials authorized overtime for first responders to protect core safety services, warning that gaps in federal funding could force difficult choices in the weeks ahead.
With no resolution in Washington, New Jersey towns now face the challenge of keeping essential services running while thousands of federal workers wait for their next paycheck.