DeSantis: Florida Returns $878M Fed. Funds Post-DOGE, Musk Meeting/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida is returning $878 million in federal funds, citing ideological strings attached under the Biden administration. The move follows a meeting with Elon Musk and officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DeSantis urged other states to support DOGE’s mission to cut government waste.
Florida Refunds Federal Funds: Quick Looks
- Florida returns $878 million in federal taxpayer funds to the U.S. Treasury
- DeSantis cites “ideological strings” under Biden as reason for rejection
- Move follows meeting with Elon Musk and DOGE officials
- Musk calls it “almost a billion dollars of your taxpayer money saved”
- DOGE aims to reduce government waste, streamline operations
- DeSantis urges other states to follow Florida’s example
- Florida’s DOGE task force is auditing spending and eliminating redundancies
- DeSantis vows to identify additional surplus federal funding for return
DeSantis: Florida Returns $878M Fed. Funds Post-DOGE, Musk Meeting
Deep Look
DeSantis, After Meeting With Musk, Returns $878 Million in Federal Funds Over ‘Ideological Strings’
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Friday the state is formally returning more than $878 million in federal taxpayer funds to the U.S. government, citing burdensome ideological conditions imposed under the Biden administration.
The move comes just hours after DeSantis met with Elon Musk and the leadership team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump-era initiative designed to root out waste and redundancy in public spending.
“For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn’t even figure out how to accept it,” DeSantis posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Today, I met with @elonmusk and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the same day.”
Nearly $900 Million Sent Back
DeSantis’ office formally notified the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday that it is returning exactly $878,112,000 in previously allocated federal funds.
In a follow-up statement, the governor’s office said it will continue to search for “unused or surplus” federal grants issued to Florida and may return more.
“At the direction of Governor DeSantis and following his meeting with Elon Musk today, the State of Florida is formally returning $878,112,000 in taxpayer dollars to the federal government as part of DOGE’s efforts,” the statement said. “We hope our actions serve as a model for other states to follow.”
Musk Applauds the Move
Musk, who now serves as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and oversees the DOGE initiative, praised the move on social media.
“Almost a billion dollars of your taxpayer money saved,” Musk wrote in response to DeSantis’ announcement.
DOGE, created under Trump’s second administration, is tasked with identifying inefficiencies in federal and state government operations. The agency uses advanced technologies, including AI, to audit budgets, uncover waste, and recommend reductions across agencies.
DOGE’s Florida Mission Expands
Last month, DeSantis unveiled Florida’s own DOGE task force to mirror the federal agency’s goals at the state level.
“Florida has set the standard for fiscally conservative governance, and our new Florida DOGE task force will do even more to serve the people of Florida,” DeSantis said when launching the initiative.
He outlined its mission as eliminating redundant state boards and commissions, reviewing university and college spending, applying AI to detect hidden inefficiencies, and auditing local governments for financial bloat.
The DOGE model, backed by Musk and Trump, has become a centerpiece of Republican efforts to reshape public sector spending, reduce bureaucracy, and reject federal conditions that conservatives view as politically motivated.
Broader Political Implications
Friday’s action further cements DeSantis’ alignment with Trump’s vision for a streamlined, efficiency-driven government—and shows how Musk’s growing influence in Washington is shaping state-level decisions.
The return of funds comes amid broader Republican criticism of how federal aid is distributed and monitored under President Biden. The GOP has repeatedly accused the Biden administration of tying conditions to federal support that push progressive policy goals on education, energy, healthcare, and gender identity.
“If Florida can do it, so can you,” he said.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.