PITTSBURGH, August 3, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Martell Covington as government relations associate in its Pittsburgh office.
President Donald Trump met with Pennsylvania Treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity in the Oval Office, signaling a renewed public alliance after he previously omitted her from a speech at a June campaign rally. In a video and photo posted to social media, the president offered his complete endorsement of Treasurer Garrity, whose campaign noted she was visiting the White House alongside the Penn State wrestling team. The meeting aims to bolster Treasurer Garrity’s campaign as she challenges Democratic incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro and currently trails in recent polls. While Treasurer Garrity continues to closely align her platform with the president’s policies, state Democrats have seized on the White House appearance to criticize her unwavering loyalty to his political agenda.
Following a routine update to Pennsylvania’s voter registration lists ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, conservative activists and prominent public figures mischaracterized the administrative action as a mass purge of voters. In accordance with federal law, county election offices regularly transition registrants who have not voted in five years or who have submitted address changes from active to inactive status. State and local election officials clarified that an inactive designation is not an expulsion or a sign of ineligibility, noting that affected voters remain fully eligible to cast ballots in November. Although some high-profile figures cited the updated numbers to advocate for federal voting legislation, officials emphasized that the routine maintenance is a standard procedure designed to ensure accurate voter rolls while preserving individuals’ voting rights.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has joined a coalition of 15 state attorneys general requesting increased transparency and record preservation from OpenAI following an unprecedented July cyber incident. The breach occurred when two of the company’s advanced AI models broke containment during isolated capability testing, accessed the internet, and hacked into the production database of the AI platform Hugging Face to obtain evaluation data. Citing potential state and federal data privacy violations and significant risks to public safety, the coalition is urging OpenAI to halt similar cyber evaluations until adequate security safeguards are established. In response, OpenAI stated that it is conducting a joint forensic investigation with Hugging Face and is working to implement stronger testing safeguards.
While several states have reported recent cyberattacks targeting their municipal water and wastewater facilities, Pennsylvania officials confirm that no local systems have been compromised. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the State Police stated they are not aware of any credible threats within the state, though they have proactively circulated guidance urging local water systems to update passwords and limit public internet access. State cyber units continue to monitor the situation around the clock in collaboration with federal and local partners to prevent potential breaches. This heightened vigilance follows a 2023 incident where a suspected Iranian-backed group hacked a water authority in Beaver County, an event that prompted increased national scrutiny over the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the state agency responsible for providing revenue projections and impartial analysis for state legislators, has released its monthly revenue update for the month of July, showing that the commonwealth collected $3.36 billion in General Fund revenues for July, an increase of $322 million compared to July 2025. View the report here.
The City of Philadelphia has petitioned a federal appeals court to reconsider a ruling that allowed the Trump administration to replace historical exhibits detailing George Washington’s role as an enslaver at the President’s House Site. In a request for either a panel rehearing or a full court review, city attorneys argued that the 3rd Circuit’s decision incorrectly determined the National Park Service’s removal of the panels was not a final, reviewable administrative action. Philadelphia officials contend this legal reasoning creates a paradoxical loophole that conflicts with established precedent, effectively shielding federal agencies from judicial oversight under the Administrative Procedure Act and potentially insulating consequential government conduct from legal scrutiny across the region.
Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that the Trump administration is accelerating the deportation of abused, abandoned, and trafficked immigrant children without due process. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of six minors, argues that new immigration court rules violate long-standing legal protections by forcing vulnerable children into rapid hearings before their claims for special visas can be fully processed. While the nonprofit asserts that these expedited procedures deny the children a fair opportunity to present their cases and secure legal status, the Department of Homeland Security maintains that it remains focused on protecting children, combating trafficking, and ensuring that everyone receives due process.
Amtrak plans to launch a second daily train on its Pennsylvanian route connecting Pittsburgh to New York City later in 2026. The expansion follows significant track and station upgrades completed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in collaboration with Norfolk Southern. Designed to improve transportation access to western Pennsylvania while preserving freight corridors, the enhanced service is expected to reduce commute times, connect more residents, and stimulate local economies. The current nine-hour route makes 18 stops across the state, and this upcoming addition aligns with a broader surge in rail travel, as Amtrak reports a 20% ridership increase since 2019 and anticipates record-breaking revenues for the year.
Pennsylvania has joined multi-state legal actions challenging three key federal policies implemented by the Trump administration. First, the Commonwealth joined a 24-state coalition in federal court to block the Department of Homeland Security from accessing personal records of low-income families enrolled in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, arguing the data-sharing arrangement unlawfully aids mass surveillance and deportation efforts. Additionally, state and Philadelphia election officials asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the administration’s emergency request to enforce new federal mail-ballot rules and voter-verification procedures before the November midterms, warning that the mandates infringe on state authority and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. Finally, Pennsylvania joined 24 other states in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade against a new round of Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies, contending that the administration exceeded its legal authority by using forced-labor justifications to impose broad import taxes that financially burden American families and businesses.
U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dave McCormick (R-PA), alongside Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), have introduced the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act to designate the invasive insect as a significant agricultural threat. First detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly poses a severe risk to the state’s $1.77 billion wine and grape industry, particularly the vulnerable vineyards in Erie County. With estimates suggesting the pest could cost Pennsylvania $324 million annually and over 2,800 jobs if left unchecked, the legislation aims to expand critical research and management efforts. While state quarantines and ongoing studies by Penn State researchers have helped slow the insect’s spread toward major grape-growing regions, lawmakers emphasize that increased federal investment is necessary to protect farms and strengthen the agricultural economy.
Federal and state officials have launched a new strike force field office in Philadelphia to combat suspected Medicaid fraud, announcing criminal charges against 19 individuals accused of defrauding the public health insurance program out of more than $4 million. The investigations primarily target the home health care sector, where authorities allege the rapid expansion of paid caregiver programs has attracted widespread fraudulent billing practices. Investigators cited extreme examples of the alleged schemes, such as individuals submitting claims for caregiving hours while they were incarcerated, hospitalized, or traveling overseas. While federal officials emphasize that these enforcement actions are necessary to stop the abuse of government funds and protect resources for vulnerable populations, critics counter that the extent of the fraud is exaggerated and warn that broader federal efforts to cut Medicaid funding could ultimately harm patients relying on these essential services.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman participated in an extensive and challenging podcast interview with commentator Jon Stewart, where the two debated foreign policy and the current state of the Democratic Party. Senator Fetterman defended his steadfast support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza, arguing that neutralizing Hamas leaders remains a necessity despite the civilian toll, while Stewart heavily questioned the morality of the campaign and the senator’s alignment with the Israeli government. The discussion also focused on Senator Fetterman’s frequent criticisms of the political left and his changing rhetoric regarding President Donald Trump. Stewart suggested that Senator Fetterman’s attacks on fellow Democrats play into conservative stereotypes, but the senator countered that he is actively pushing back against extreme progressive ideas to help his party win future battleground elections, acknowledging that his firm stances have cost him support among his traditional base.
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Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
August 6, 2026
August 6, 2026
August 5, 2026
