Florida Universities Face Sweeping State Audit Under DeSantis’ DOGE Mandate
Florida’s public universities are facing a new level of scrutiny as Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration launches a sweeping audit into academic research, spending, and staffing across the state’s higher education system. The move, initiated through the recently formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), marks one of the most extensive state-led reviews of university operations in recent memory—and it has already sparked concern and debate in academic circles.
The DOGE initiative requires universities to provide detailed documentation about every grant awarded and every piece of research published by faculty in the past six years. According to correspondence obtained by the media, the review also demands exhaustive listings of all filled and vacant non-instructional positions along with detailed policy explanations regarding grant allocation and indirect cost recovery. The first deadline is April 18, 2025, with additional responses due by the end of the month.
For many faculty members, the request represents an immense administrative burden at a time when academic resources are already strained. “There is a huge cost associated with this. Immense resources that could be going elsewhere,” said David Simmons, president of the University of South Florida’s faculty senate. “Faculty research is already publicly available on databases like Google Scholar. Right now, we don’t know why this has been requested.”
Santa Fe College Vice President Nathaniel Southerland echoed a tone of cautious optimism in a schoolwide email to faculty, stating, “I remain confident that the information we supply will demonstrate that Santa Fe College is a good steward of taxpayers' dollars.” The transparency is being positioned by Governor DeSantis’ office as an effort to streamline spending, root out inefficiencies, and ensure the higher education system operates as a "well-oiled machine." However, the governor has also suggested that the probe will address compliance with state laws on diversity, equity, and inclusion—a flashpoint in ongoing culture war debates about the direction of public education in Florida.
The University of North Florida (UNF) received its DOGE request on April 4, just days after announcing a prior letter from the governor. UNF has responded by setting up a secured, university-wide folder to manage the flow of information requested. According to the school, Lorraine Beach, senior advisor to UNF President Moez Limayem, will handle communications and document submissions for the purpose of the audit. As of yet, university officials have not detailed how they plan to fulfill the comprehensive demands within the tight deadlines. Spinnaker, UNF’s student media outlet, has yet to receive a response from the administration on the logistics involved.
Higher education stakeholders across Florida now find themselves in a delicate position—balancing the need to comply with state directives against anxiety about what the unprecedented audit may mean for faculty autonomy, research priorities, and institutional independence. The opacity surrounding the motives for such an exhaustive review only heightens the tensions.
As this story develops, the ramifications for Florida’s universities could resonate well beyond the state’s borders. Will this audit set a precedent for how states oversee and fund public higher education nationwide, or will it be remembered as a costly exercise in bureaucracy? The coming weeks are certain to spark further discussion. Readers—what do you think this sweeping audit means for the future of American academia? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.
