Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP / Getty Images
All five living former governors of Pennsylvania have called on the state legislature to make the safety of Governor Josh Shapiro and his family a top priority, following recent violent incidents and a dispute over funding for security upgrades. The bipartisan statement was released Monday (April 27) and comes after the arson attack on the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg last year and an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner over the weekend, as reported by NTD.
The former governors—Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett, and Tom Wolf—did not endorse a specific plan but stressed that “combatting political violence and keeping our elected officials safe should always be nonpartisan and a priority.” Their statement follows State Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s decision last week to block nearly $1.1 million in taxpayer funding for security improvements at Shapiro’s privately owned home. According to Spotlight PA, Garrity argued that state law does not allow public money to be used for permanent improvements to private property.
Garrity, who is expected to challenge Shapiro in the November gubernatorial election, said the Treasury “does not currently have the legal authority to pay for security improvements to a personal residence,” a stance she said is based on legal rules, not politics. She added, “Violence and threats against public officials have no place in our country.” Her full response is available through CBS 21 News.
The funding dispute began after the April 2025 arson at the Governor’s Residence, when Shapiro and his family were targeted as they slept. In response, Pennsylvania State Police recommended upgrades at Shapiro’s Abington home. Most of this work was completed before legislative leaders were informed, prompting concerns about transparency and compliance with ethics rules. State Senator Jarrett Coleman has since proposed legislation to increase transparency and oversight of security spending, including creating a new Executive Protection Oversight Board that would approve future expenditures and report to lawmakers.
A spokesperson for Shapiro said the administration consulted the state Ethics Commission, which later ruled the upgrades did not personally benefit Shapiro given the circumstances. However, the timing of the ethics review has drawn scrutiny, since much of the work had already begun.
Discussions are ongoing. Garrity noted that lawmakers could authorize the payments through the state budget process or seek an out-of-court settlement, either of which would allow Treasury to pay the bills. Meanwhile, State Police officials have voiced opposition to any legislation that could limit their ability to act quickly in emergencies.
The former governors’ statement did not address the payment dispute directly, but their call for prioritizing the governor’s safety has intensified debate in Harrisburg over how best to balance security needs, legal constraints, and public accountability. With the November election ahead and recent incidents highlighting risks to public officials, the issue remains unresolved.