Florida Agency Under Moskowitz Failed to Monitor Over $1 Billion in COVID Relief Funds, Audit Finds

A state audit from 2022 revealed that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), under the leadership of then-director Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., failed to monitor over $1 billion in COVID-19 relief funds. The audit flagged this as a "gross oversight" in the handling of federal awards.

The audit, titled "2022 State of Florida Compliance and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting and Federal Awards," stated that "FDEM did not monitor the activities of any subrecipients." While the audit did not identify specific instances of fraud, the findings have resurfaced as Moskowitz seeks re-election in a competitive congressional district.

During the 2020-2021 fiscal year, FDEM, with Moskowitz at its helm for most of that period, approved approximately $210.5 million in funding to 39 local governments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). In the subsequent fiscal year, an additional $1.026 billion was distributed to 55 locations. In total, these grants amounted to $1.23 billion.

The audit specified that federal regulations require monitoring of subrecipients, which should include reviewing their audit reports and taking action on any findings related to federal awards. Acceptable oversight typically involves inquiries to recipients and on-site evaluations.

Moskowitz resigned from his position as FDEM director in April 2021, two months before the close of the 2020-2021 fiscal year. His Republican opponent, Scott Singer, criticized Moskowitz's record, stating that "when Jared Moskowitz ran a state agency, federal regulators and state auditors found that there was a gross lack of oversight of billions of dollars of taxpayer funds."

Singer also alluded to a previous controversy involving Moskowitz's work as an attorney for disaster-cleanup company AshBritt after Hurricane Irma in 2017. Disclosure reports at the time indicated Moskowitz was being paid over $400,000 by the company while serving as a state legislator.

In response, the Moskowitz campaign stated that the congressman was proud of his work as director and was re-appointed to the role by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. "As Director of FDEM, I worked directly for Governor DeSantis and his administration. Florida had one of the best COVID responses in the country," Moskowitz said. He also noted that Florida's COVID spending had passed FEMA audits for reimbursements. Moskowitz shared communications where Singer reportedly praised his disaster-related work.

Moskowitz and Singer are set to compete in the Florida general election on November 3.