WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Josh Shapiro this week signed Executive Order 2025-01 to help fill critical vacancies in the Commonwealth workforce with experienced former federal employees who have specialized expertise in important fields like civil engineering, nursing, corrections, accounting and more.
The governor’s executive order directs the Office of Administration to accept federal government experience as equivalent to Commonwealth work experience for civil service roles, ensuring former federal employees with valuable experience can more easily apply for essential vacant positions with the Commonwealth.
The executive order focuses on adding workforce in already-funded job positions to serve Pennsylvanians more efficiently and effectively.
As part of this executive order, the Shapiro Administration will also begin an aggressive effort to recruit federal employees into Pennsylvania’s workforce, launching a new website with key information about exciting state government opportunities that align with their experience and hosting virtual and in-person job fairs for federal employees.
So far, the Shapiro Administration has reduced hiring times by 32% and filled nearly 600 previously vacant permitting, licensing, and certification (PLC) jobs.
“Right now, Pennsylvania still has 540 critical jobs to fill — and we have an opportunity to recruit federal workers and veterans who have significant experience and expertise in all of these fields because they’ve held these jobs already at the federal level or in the military,” Shapiro said.
“The federal public sector workforce is one of the most professional and qualified in the world, and we know that many federal jobs have similar duties to jobs performed by Commonwealth employees,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver.
Rep. Meuser supports school choice with bill to expand education savings options
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, his week co-sponsored H.R.939 — the Student Empowerment Act — legislation aimed at expanding school choice by broadening the scope of 529 Education Savings Plans.
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings account designed to help families save for education expenses, including tuition, books and other learning costs.
Under H.R.939, Meuser said families would have greater flexibility in using 529 funds for a wide range of essential educational expenses — including tuition for public, private, religious and home-school education, as well as curriculum, books, tutoring, testing fees and specialized therapies for students with disabilities.
Additionally, Meuser said this legislation reinstates the original intent of the Student Opportunity Amendment, ensuring that home-school families can once again access 529 savings benefits.
By expanding these savings plans, Meuser said the Student Empowerment Act allows parents to customize their children’s education to best fit their needs.
Meuser said this legislation has received strong backing from education advocates and parental rights organizations, including Parents Defending Education Action, the American Federation for Children, and the Home School Legal Defense Association.
“Every child deserves access to a quality education, and that starts with empowering families to make the best choices for their children,” Meuser said. “School choice is about ensuring that parents — not the government—have the final say in how their kids are educated. By expanding 529 Education Savings Plans, the Student Empowerment Act gives families the financial flexibility to invest in the educational path that best meets their child’s needs — whether it’s public, private, religious or home-school. I’m pleased to support this legislation because no student should be limited by a one-size-fits-all system when it comes to their future.”
H.R.939 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.
Rep. Walsh working to save PSU’s branch campuses in NEPA
Following up on his pledge to take every step necessary to prevent the possible closures of Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Hazleton, Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, said he is taking a closer look at the university’s financial figures, enrollment numbers and academic programs.
Walsh’s efforts follow last week’s announcement by Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi that the university may close some of its smaller branch campuses due to mounting financial challenges, including four in northeast Pennsylvania.
Walsh said he and other lawmakers in the region are united in their opposition to Bendapudi’s plan.
“As promised, I am undertaking a deeper dive into the financial numbers for the Commonwealth’s four state-related universities — Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln — to gain a better understanding of how our state funding support of these schools is being used,” Walsh said. “There is no question enrollment is down significantly at all our local branch campuses, and we need to find out why. I believe the university could be doing a better job of attracting students by offering majors in more practical careers that match the needs of Pennsylvania’s workforce.
“Penn State appears to be wasting money on academic programs that have little ‘real world’ demand and enrollment at the branch campuses has suffered as a result. Perhaps the focus should shift to offering majors that are related to the trades, manufacturing or agriculture, which is our state’s No. 1 industry, to attract students interested in careers that are much more employable in today’s job market. Enrollment would grow, and our local campuses could remain open.”
PAGOP Chair names new executive director
The Republican Party of Pennsylvania (PAGOP) this week announced a senior staff hire, who has joined PAGOP to ensure Republicans across the Commonwealth are in position to have success on the ballot and continue advancing conservative priorities.
Eric Anderson has been hired as executive director.
Anderson comes to the party with nearly a decade of political and operational experience. Most recently, he served as the political director for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick’s winning Senate Campaign.