By: Michael Matthews | Publish Date: February 24th, 2026
It has been quite a busy month for Governor Mikie Sherrill since her inauguration. This former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor continues to work on budget, affordability, and transportation issues.
February 2026 Blizzard
Sherrill’s biggest issue this week, February 22nd brought a blizzard to the Northeast coast of the United States, blanketing New Jersey from Sussex County to the Jersey Shore. This is the biggest blizzard the state has had since 1996. Governor Sherrill imposed a travel ban that started at 9 p.m. on Sunday evening until Monday at noon. Sherrill has emphasized that this weekend’s storm is on a different level than even the recent winter storm in January. Blizzard warnings for the first time in 30 years have been issued in parts of the state, and with wind gusts at 60 miles per hour, many branches and trees were torn down.
The Governor stated on CNN that “it is a really dangerous storm. We will see white out conditions at times with both the snow coming down and the wind gusts.”
All transportation was shut down on Monday and remains disrupted going into Tuesday. She lamented finally being able to see grass on the ground after the last storm, before the onslaught of the blizzard.
“We have the best public workers in the nation,” Sherrill said. “We saw the incredible work that the men and women did here. The DPW (Department of Public Works) are out there salting and plowing the roads. We have our state troopers…we have over 5,000 utility workers ready to get to work.”
Work on Gateway Project to Resume: Funds are Released
Construction on the Gateway rail tunnel project under the Hudson River will resume next week after the Trump administration released roughly $200 million in federal funds that were previously frozen. Funding has been restored following an appeals court decision that declined to overturn a lower court ruling that found the freeze was illegal. Contractors will be notified, and work is expected to resume. Officials have warned the shutdown had been costing up to $20 million a month.
Two lawsuits remain ongoing over whether the federal government can withhold congressionally approved funds. Congress has allocated about $15 billion for the project. The Trump administration has offered explanations for the freeze, some which included concerns about DEI policies, grant compliance, and funding negotiations.
State Budget
Governor Sherrill has indicated that she is determined to drive costs down for the residents of New Jersey. She is preparing the first budget for her new administration.
“Certainly, property taxes are a key thing I hear about at the state level,” Sherrill said, “I just had a meeting yesterday with leadership in the Senate and Assembly. We’ll continue to work to make sure the budget reflects the priorities of our state.”
Governor Sherrill is expected to deliver her first New Jersey state budget address on March 10, 2026.
For continued coverage of Governor Mikie Sherrill and what the future holds for the residents of New Jersey, check back every Tuesday afternoon with Michael Matthews’ column.
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