Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is seen after a B'nai B'rith Youth Organization International Convention on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
More than 800 former federal workers have found new professional homes in Pennsylvania government over the past year, when President Donald Trump’s administration has been slashing agencies and ending programs.
In response to the federal cuts, Gov. Josh Shapiro in March 2025 signed an executive order directing state agencies to recruit some of the displaced workers. The order also instructed state officials to treat federal and state experience as equivalent, smoothing the hiring process for the employees who’d lost their jobs, according to a statement.
One year later, federal workers now fill commonwealth positions in law enforcement, public safety, human services and health care.
“Federal employees bring world-class training and a deep commitment to public service,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver said in a prepared statement. “By tapping into their expertise, we’ve strengthened our workforce and improved the delivery of programs and services that Pennsylvanians depend on every day.”
The statement indicated state leaders used artificial intelligence to match federal workers to state openings and launched a website advertising jobs for these employees.
How many federal workers lost their jobs under Trump?
As of 2024, about 104,000 Pennsylvanians worked in the federal government, according to state labor and industry officials. But Trump’s first few months in office were a time of upheaval for this workforce, as billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sought to slash positions and reduce spending.
Nationwide, more than 264,000 people have exited federal employment since Trump took office in January 2025, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
However, it’s unclear how much money American taxpayers have saved through DOGE. Investigative reports have shown Musk’s initiative overstated its financial impact, while its sweeping, unilateral actions have landed the government in numerous legal battles that have sapped resources.
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