Inside the governor’s residence after an arson attack on April 13. (Credit: Shapiro administration via public records request/Spotlight PA)
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s private residence in Abington Township is undergoing approximately $1 million in security upgrades following the April arson attack on the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
According to the Department of General Services and the Pennsylvania State Police, who sent a letter to leaders in the state House and Senate, outlined the planned improvements, which include “erecting physical and visual barriers on the property, installing enhanced security technology, and other steps.”
The letter reads:
"While unsuccessful, the incident showed that major security updates were needed to protect public visitors to the Governor’s Residence, the current First Family, and all future governors from active threats at a time when elected officials across the country are facing rising political violence.
Unfortunately, the threat to a high-profile elected official like Governor Shapiro does not end when he leaves the Governor’s Residence. To that end, PSP in consultation with independent experts, conducted a security review of the Governor’s personal residence, which he and his family continue to utilize. PSP decided on several recommendations for security improvements at the Governor’s private residence, including erecting physical and visual barriers on the property, installing enhanced security technology, and other steps. These security improvements, which cannot all be disclosed to the public for safety reasons, are estimated to total around $1 million. As these costs are related to the work of the Executive Services Office of PSP, PSP General Government Operations funding will be utilized to implement the recommendations. The horrifying attack on the Governor, his family, and Commonwealth property, coupled with the unfortunate rise in political violence across our country, has made these updates necessary to protect the Governor and his family and ensure the continued operation of the executive branch of the Commonwealth. No family should have to live behind bulletproof glass or behind large walls – but the nature of the threats against elected officials today require us to take these important steps."
Sen. Jarrett Coleman, chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, said in a statement that “The Intergovernmental Operations Committee will continue to investigate how this decision was made and what steps are being taken to protect taxpayers as this unprecedented project is being completed.”
In response to questions about the funding, Shapiro spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky said the administration “consulted the Ethics Commission … to ensure there is no improper private, pecuniary gain from these security improvements.”
A Spotlight PA report published in September noted that more than $6 million in public funds had already been spent on repairs to the Governor’s Residence over the past four months.
