Topper: Embrace Efforts to Right-Size Government

March 5, 2025

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) today issued the following response to Gov. Josh Shapiro issuing an executive order on the state civil service system:

“While President Trump is using his mandate to lead the federal government in an unprecedented effort to right-size itself in true responsibility to the taxpayers, finding ways to add to our bureaucracy here in Pennsylvania sends us in the wrong direction. When a job becomes vacant in Pennsylvania’s administrative apparatus, the question should first be asked if it is truly needed rather than how quickly it can be filled.

“Pennsylvania’s private sector, like much of the rest of the country, is continuing to face significant hiring challenges and many in-demand jobs are going unfilled due to workforce shortages. Federal employees looking to translate their skills into new lines of work should be encouraged to enter private sector employment instead of having a path cleared for the Commonwealth to be a sanctuary for adrift bureaucrats.

“Given universally accepted budget challenges facing the Commonwealth in future years, we should continue exploring state-specific ways to get our fiscal house in order to avoid the need for significant cuts or tax increases in the coming years.”

Republican Leader Jesse Topper
78th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jason Gottesman
717-512-0620
jgottesman@pahousegop.com