Audit Says Florida FDEM Sent $1.23 Billion in COVID Funds Without Required Monitoring Under Moskowitz
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 29
Audit Says Florida FDEM Sent $1.23 Billion in COVID Funds Without Required Monitoring Under Moskowitz
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 29
Summary
A 2022 Florida audit found the Division of Emergency Management failed to monitor any subrecipients of Coronavirus Relief Fund grants, covering $1.23 billion approved during Jared Moskowitz’s tenure as director.
$210.6 million went to 39 local governments in fiscal 2020-21 and $1.026 billion to 55 recipients the next year; auditors said required oversight should have included report reviews, follow-up on deficiencies and onsite checks.
Moskowitz led FDEM for most of the 2020-21 audit period but left in April before that fiscal year ended. He said Florida had one of the country’s best COVID responses and that state spending passed FEMA reimbursement audits.
Scott Singer, Moskowitz’s Republican opponent in a competitive Florida House race, used the audit to attack his stewardship of taxpayer funds, while Moskowitz countered by citing past praise from Singer and his reappointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis.