Trump taps Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro to join bipartisan governor's council

Hallie Lauer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Feb 20, 2025

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President Donald Trump tapped Gov. Josh Shapiro to be one of 10 new members to lead the bipartisan Council of Governors, the White House announced Wednesday.

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

The appointment comes as Shapiro's national profile rises, including for a potential White House run in 2028.

Shapiro was a finalist last year to be Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate during the presidential election. At the time, Trump made a post on social media calling Shapiro a "highly overrated Jewish governor," which both the White House and Shapiro at the time condemned as antisemitic.

The Council of Governors 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.

A requirement of the council is that it includes five governors from each party.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., and Gov. Josh Stein, D-N.C., will serve as co-chairs of the council. Also on the council are Republican governors Ron DeSantis, whom Trump has publicly ridiculed in the past, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Jeff Landry of Louisiana and Henry McMaster of South Carolina.

Democrats joining the council in addition to Shapiro include Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The governors will serve a two-year term. Federal officers like the Secretary of Defense are also part of the council.

The appointments were announced as governors from across the country, including Shapiro, visit Washington, D.C. for the National Governor's Association annual meeting where he will "be focused on promoting Pennsylvania and engaging with leaders from across the country to create opportunity for our Commonwealth," according to Shapiro's spokesperson Manuel Bonder.

Shapiro "looks forward to this opportunity to represent Pennsylvania and collaborate with leaders in both parties on key security and emergency response issues," Bonder said.

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