Gov Shapiro to serve on President Trump’s Council of Governors, Shapiro administration looking to close 2 state prisons, 2 community corrections centers

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February 21st, 2025 | By Ryan Genova

Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington will serve as one of 10 new members to lead the bipartisan Council of Governors, the White House announced Wednesday.

The council was created in 2008 to serve as a forum for state governors to work with federal officials to improve the state-federal partnerships particularly in areas like national security and disaster response.

Shapiro’s appointment marks the first time a Pennsylvania governor has been appointed to the council and comes less than one week after he filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s executive order to freeze federal funding in the commonwealth.

The governor “looks forward to this opportunity to represent Pennsylvania and collaborate with leaders in both parties on key security and emergency response issues,” Shapiro’s spokesperson Manuel Bonder said. 

Appointed Members

  • Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA) – Co-Chair
  • Governor Josh Stein (NC) – Co-Chair
  • Governor Ron DeSantis (FL)
  • Governor Brian Kemp (GA)
  • Governor Jeff Landry (LA)
  • Governor Wes Moore (MD)
  • Governor Gretchen Whitmer (MI)
  • Governor Kathy Hochul (NY)
  • Governor Josh Shapiro (PA)
  • Governor Henry McMaster (SC)

6ABC’s video coverage is below:

In related news, the Shapiro administration’s $51.5 billion 2025-26 budget proposal includes a measure to cut costs by closing two state prisons and two state-run community corrections centers, City and State reported.

SCI Rockview in Centre County and Quehanna Boot Camp in Clearfield County are named within the proposal per the recommendation of the state Department of Corrections’ steering committee.

Their closures could save the state more than $100 million over the next few years. The closures would also allow the state to avoid $74 million in necessary maintenance costs at SCI Rockview and $5.7 million in near-term maintenance costs at Quehanna Boot Camp, according to the closure proposal. 

The department is also recommending that Wernersville CCC in Berks County and Progress CCC in Greene County close their doors for another $10 million in annual savings. 

The Shapiro administration has said falling incarceration rates in Pennsylvania make the closures possible.

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Screengrab: 6ABC