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    News from and about the Office of the Budget

    July 30, 2026
    keystone logo for the P A Office of the Budget

    Budget Office Employees Receive Governor’s Awards for Excellence for Navigating Federal Funding Uncertainty

    As the federal government continues to slash billions of dollars in state aid, this team is working to preserve funding for programs serving Pennsylvanians.

    July 30, 2026 – Ten employees from the Office of the Budget (OB) have been recognized with the Governor’s Awards for Excellence by Governor Josh Shapiro for their efforts to minimize the impact of federal funding cuts to Pennsylvanians. The employees, Sandra Bruno, Jessie Casner, John Ehrig, Eric Gergerson, Jamie Jerosky, Melanie Little, Shelley Neff, Brian Seno, Matthew Stubb, and Michelle Zirilli, were presented with the awards at a ceremony today at the Forum Auditorium in Harrisburg.

    “I am incredibly proud of these employees for their dedication and steady leadership during a year marked by extraordinary challenges. They stepped up, stayed focused, and consistently put the needs of Pennsylvanians first,” said Zach Reber, Secretary of the Budget. “The Office of the Budget plays a critical role in ensuring that state and federal dollars flow responsibly and efficiently to the programs that support our communities. This recognition underscores the vital importance of our mission and the exceptional people who carry it out.”

    In response to federal funding cuts, the Shapiro Administration implemented new measures in early 2025 to protect the state budget and programs for public safety, health, small businesses, infrastructure, and food assistance that millions of Pennsylvanians depend on. The OB staff were charged with approving all Commonwealth purchases and hiring requests using federal dollars to minimize the risk of needing to replace that money with state tax dollars. In addition to their regular job duties, OB reviewed over 3,000 transactions and $4 billion in requests based on agency grant agreements, justifications, and program risk. This was all done in an environment of incomplete and quickly changing information and multiple court challenges.

    This team, in a closely coordinated effort with all OB staff, maintained regular communication with agencies to stay updated on changes to federal grant funding and to analyze their financial impact. They also ensured that federal funding was available before entering into new grant agreements, that all available funds were drawn down before they expired, and that any advance payments would not create cash flow issues for the Commonwealth. They also adapted to new requirements imposed by the federal government for states to access funding. Their prompt responses to over 500 requests for additional, detailed justification helped to minimize delays and maximize the funding available to the Commonwealth. 

    The Governor’s Awards for Excellence recognize exemplary job performance or service that reflects initiative, leadership, innovation and increased efficiency. The Office of the Budget team was among 83 employees from 17 state agencies who are being recognized for exceptional accomplishments in 2025.