Josh Shapiro Abandons Draconian Power Grab Following Daily Wire Report

Pennsylvania’s Department of Health announced on Friday that it was abandoning a proposed overhaul of the state’s health code that would have given Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro authoritarian police powers ahead of his re-election campaign.

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Secretary of Health Debra Bogen submitted a to Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission on September 25 stating the Department was withdrawing its proposed regulation, which would have given bureaucrats unchecked authoritarian powers in the name of “disease control measures,” including the ability to enter homes and schools without a warrant, access confidential medical records, and impose statewide school mask mandates.

The reversal, a major blow to Shapiro, was due to an “incredible outpouring” of public concern, Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper told The Daily Wire.

“Withdrawing these regulations following the incredible outpouring of legislative and public concern about their overreach is the correct and logical conclusion for the Department of Health,” Topper said. “Going forward, it would be my hope the Department would solicit legislative and public input prior to drafting any new regulations.”

Pennsylvanians voted to limit the unilateral emergency powers of the governor’s office through a constitutional amendment in May 2021. But the Department of Health reports to the governor’s office, meaning the proposed change would have given Shapiro and his successors the ability to single-handedly implement draconian policies across the state.

“The least transparent Governor in America got caught trying to sneak a 502 page invasion of privacy and parental rights through, and he was caught,” Garrity wrote on X. “Thank you to every Pennsylvanian who joined me in speaking out and having your voice heard!

The least transparent Governor in America got caught trying to sneak a 502 page invasion of privacy and parental rights through, and he was caught.

Thank you to every Pennsylvanian who joined me in speaking out and having your voice heard!

— Stacy Garrity (@GarrityForPA) September 25, 2026

The Daily Wire’s bombshell report on the regulatory power grab, published on August 24, prompted a groundswell of backlash against the proposal. Topper cited The Daily Wire’s reporting in an August 26 letter that called on the Shapiro administration to withdraw the regulatory proposal.

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The Pennsylvania GOP stated the Shapiro administration “received over 6,000 appeals from the public” on social media. Before The Daily Wire’s report was published, only 18 public comments on the regulation were posted by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.

“This withdrawal is a victory for Pennsylvania parents, families, and schools who spoke up against this sweeping expansion of government power,” Randall Wenger, chief counsel of the Independence Law Center, told The Daily Wire. “Thousands of Pennsylvanians made clear that the state should not have unchecked authority over our children, our medical information, and our schools.”

🚨🚨BREAKING: SHAPIRO’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BACKS DOWN UNDER PRESSURE.

After our members raised serious concerns about the Shapiro administration’s overreach, and after they received over 6,000 appeals from the public, the PA DOH has WITHDRAWN their proposed COVID-era regulatory changes.

— PA House Republicans 🇺🇸 (@PAHouseGOP) September 25, 2026

Secretary Bogen’s withdrawal letter signaled the battle over the “proposed COVID-era regulatory changes” is far from over. Bogen wrote that the Department of Health “intends to make further revisions to the proposed rulemaking and resubmit it as a new proposed rulemaking at a future date.”

As Pennsylvania elections loom that will determine control of the governor’s office and the balance of power in the state legislature, Wenger says the fight against this government power grab is not over.

“The Department has already said it intends to rewrite and resubmit these regulations, and we will be watching closely to ensure that the fundamental rights of parents and families are protected,” Wenger told The Daily Wire. “This fight is not over.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Health did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.

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