Senate confirms Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection secretary

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection officially has a new leader.

The Senate confirmed Jessica Shirley as secretary of DEP via a bipartisan vote.

“Secretary Shirley has spent her career serving the people of Pennsylvania and she is committed to delivering timely answers while protecting Pennsylvanians’ constitutional rights to clean air and pure water,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “During her 14 years with the Department, Secretary Shirley has been a driving force in safeguarding our environment while streamlining permitting processes and promoting economic growth.”

Shirley has been with DEP for 14 years and has been an Executive Policy Specialist, Policy Director, first-of-its-kind Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, and Executive Deputy Secretary.

“It is an honor and a privilege to head DEP and I am grateful to Governor Shapiro for entrusting me with his nomination and to the Senate for confirming me,” said Shirley. “I look forward to leading this agency of talented professionals as we continue to serve Pennsylvanians by protecting the air we breathe, the land we live on, and the water we drink from pollution.”

Shirley is the 10th secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection since its formation in 1995 from the split-up of the Department of Environmental Resources.

She is Shapiro’s second DEP secretary, succeeding Rich Negrin who resigned in Dec. 2023. Shirley has been acting secretary ever since.