More than 800 former federal workers have been hired by the Pennsylvania government since Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order last year directing state agencies to give hiring preference to federal employees, according to a press release.

The order, which was a response to President Donald Trump’s ongoing liquidation of federal employees., 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,” according to a statement.

The federal government reduced its workforce by over 242,000 employees in 2025. Pennsylvania received approximately 1,100 applications from roughly 700 people with experience in the federal workforce as of mid-March 2025. By April 2025, that number jumped to approximately 3,800 applications from about 2,000 people with public service credentials.

“Federal employees bring world-class training and a deep commitment to public service,” Neil Weaver, secretary of the Office of Administration, said in a statement last week. “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 800 former federal employees who now work for Pennsylvania are in law enforcement, public safety, human services, health care, and other areas, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

As of Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania’s online job board showed 638 vacancies. 27 of them are based in Montgomery County.

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