In response to more than 200 veterans dying from COVID-19 at state-run nursing homes during the pandemic, New Jersey will soon have a separate cabinet-level department that will concentrate on veterans' health care and housing that supporters hope will help avoid future disasters.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law on Sept. 11 that essentially splits up the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which oversaw two veterans homes in Paramus and Menlo Park where poor planning and questionable decisions helped lead to one of the biggest nursing home death tolls in the nation during the pandemic.

The new Department of Veterans Affairs will oversee the homes along with other veterans benefits. The new Department of Military Affairs will focus on the New Jersey National Guard

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