With Doge scrutinizing federal workers for cuts, one potential 2028 Democrat hoper has issued an executive order aimed at filling hundreds of vacant seats in his own state government, focusing on private sector openings.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined other senior officials at the job fair at the Harrisburg State Farm Show complex, signing federal officials in particular to be asked to open up jobs in Harrisburg's civil servants.
“The Federation recognizes that a workforce of dedicated and talented civil servants is the backbone of a responsive government that can ensure the efficient and effective delivery of services for Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said in the order.
According to another statement from Shapiro, the executive order “is attempting to capitalize on federal layoffs by accepting federal work experience comparable to state experiences of states' highest recruitment needs.
Governor Josh Shapiro (AP/file)
The statement adds that there is also a focus on veterans and military service members, with direct access to recruiter contacts and publications of 23 state jobs where the highest priority is the most difficult.
“It is essential for the federal government to attract and retain qualified employees who are attracted to public service careers to fill existing vacancy,” reads the order, citing the estimated 103,700 Pennsylvanians employed by the federal government in 2024.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Management Neil Weaver added that the federal workforce is “one of the most professional and qualified in the world, and we know that many federal jobs have similar duties to the work done by federal employees.”
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“This executive order will help individuals with federal experience find relevant employment opportunities, continue their public service careers and devote their skills to the people of Pennsylvania,” Weaver said.
Shapiro's order aims to encourage qualified federal workers to relocate I-83 to Harrisburg, but sources familiar with his efforts pointed out that the governor relies on a comprehensive strategy to attract the finest talent to the public and private sectors of Pennsylvania.
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The day before he issued his order focusing on the work of the state government, Shapiro held a meeting in Pittsburgh with private sector leaders at the Allegheny Conference seeking to promote economic growth in western Pennsylvania.
So Shapiro spoke about his energy “lightning plan” to increase employment while reducing costs, saying, “We don't do anything meaningful in energy generation. [Ed] Rendell Administration: It's time to lead again. ”
Shapiro called in October with tech billionaire Elon Musk. The governor said neither of them discussed politics, instead discussed investment in Pennsylvania.
In the past, sources familiar with the Shapiro administration's research, given his informal and repeated slogans, suggested that before Trump's judicial efforts to reduce federal waste began, he gave birth to a mantle that would increase government efficiency: “s-t get sone.”
But conservatives quickly criticized Shapiro's orders, and minority leaders at the Capitol suggested that the first vacant government work would be deemed necessary first.
“President Trump uses his mission to lead the federal government in an unprecedented effort to right-size himself with a real responsibility to taxpayers, but finding ways to add to our bureaucracy here in Pennsylvania will send us the wrong way.”
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“When work is free from Pennsylvania's administrative equipment, you should first ask whether it is really necessary rather than how quickly it can be filled,” Topper continued, adding that the focus should be on “a nationally specific way to organize your finances home in order.”
Meanwhile, a potential 2026 Shapiro opponent said the governor's order would “deteriorate life in Pennsylvania.”
“He's already unsustainable and has proposed a $51 billion job offer, but that's not enough for him,” state Sen. R-Gettysburg said.
“Now he wants to continue this epic standout, trying to bring political attention to himself, and while he doesn't hit his eyes as he is destroying the Pennsylvania economy and ruining the lives and livelihoods of our families.”
Mastoriano launched last week an effort to establish a unique version of Pennsylvania's government efficiency.
