Florida Officials Subpoena Orange County Employees Over DEI Audit Obstruction

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia have issued subpoenas to Orange County employees amid a state audit investigating alleged attempts to conceal information related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) grant programs. The subpoenas follow findings that county employees may have renamed and withheld documents and emails related to DEI grants, with auditors uncovering that out of 1.2 million emails reviewed, five DEI grants were not mentioned in any correspondence. Ingoglia and DeSantis criticized these actions as efforts to obstruct the audit and mislead investigators, emphasizing the taxpayers' right to transparency and accountability. The Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is leading the audit, which was triggered by concerns over significant increases in county spending and property taxes not aligned with population growth. Both officials warned county employees against dishonesty during interviews and signaled potential involvement of law enforcement and digital forensic teams to uncover any intentional cover-ups. County officials have provided substantial documentation, but questions remain as the investigation continues and a report is expected within 60 days.