Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pursuing spending cuts similar to those enacted during the Trump administration. As his second term progresses, DeSantis is leading a campaign to slash property taxes—which provide around 30 percent of local government revenue—and dramatically reduce state-funded programs. To aid in these efforts, he has commissioned a state-level version of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” dubbed “DOGE,” to be run by his appointed chief financial officer, who also hosts a YouTube show called “Government Gone Wild.” The governor’s proposed budget for the current year is 10 percent lower than his 2019 budget when adjusted for inflation and population.
Climate Programs in the Crosshairs
The governor’s office published a DOGE report last month that identified local climate initiatives as examples of “irresponsible spending.” The task force targeted efforts in Jacksonville to purchase electric vehicles, St. Petersburg’s hiring of a “sustainability and resilience officer,” and Miami’s expansion of bus and rail systems. The report specifically criticized Palm Beach County’s Office of Resilience, which aims to “reduce resident, business, and natural resource vulnerability” to disasters including flooding, storms, extreme heat, and saltwater intrusion.
Despite this criticism, the state’s “Resilient Florida” program—inaugurated during DeSantis’s first term to ward off flooding and sea level rise—appears to be weathering the cuts. The program has become one of the country’s most robust climate adaptation programs, rivaling federal efforts led by FEMA. Over $1 billion in resilience money has been distributed to local governments, which then provide matching funds. By comparison, FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program has distributed around $5 billion nationwide.
Resilient Florida has funded projects such as the construction of “living shorelines” to prevent erosion at the Pensacola naval base and the relocation of an island wastewater treatment plant in Fort Pierce to prevent flooding. Palm Beach County has received tens of millions of dollars in state funding to raise an island park and construct a $30 million storm drain system, though a portion of funding for the latter was vetoed by DeSantis last summer.
A Program with Bipartisan Support
Republican state legislator Jim Mooney, representing the Florida Keys, believes the program represents smart spending, as local governments match each dollar of state grants. Mooney stated, “The idea is you need to have shovel-ready projects, because getting these grants is hard…That’s what you’re collecting people’s property taxes for, to some extent — to secure that stuff done.” In his district, Resilient Florida has funded subterranean drainage pipes to reduce residential flooding.
The program was renewed last year without controversy, passing both legislative chambers in less than a month and without any dissenting votes. Funding for Resilient Florida will now come from the Seminole gaming compact, an agreement governing revenue from online sports betting, and is set at $150 million for the coming year with no expiration date.
A National Trend
Similar resilience programs are facing challenges elsewhere. The Trump administration sought to terminate a key federal resilience grant program, and the Department of Homeland Security has paused FEMA hazard mitigation spending. In Louisiana, a new governor has halted efforts to fight sea-level rise and prevent coastal erosion, canceling a major sediment diversion project and intervening in the governance of the levee system protecting New Orleans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the “Resilient Florida” program?
The “Resilient Florida” program doles out millions of dollars a year to ward off flooding and sea level rise.
How is the “Resilient Florida” program funded?
The program is now funded by the Seminole gaming compact, an agreement between the state and the Seminole tribe that governs revenue from online sports betting.
What did the DOGE report criticize?
The DOGE report singled out local efforts to confront climate change as examples of “irresponsible spending,” targeting projects in Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Miami, and Palm Beach County.
Given the economic importance of Florida’s coastline, will the state continue to prioritize climate resilience even as it seeks to reduce overall spending?
