September 11, 2026 - Washington, D.C. — Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Maxwell Frost, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs, have demanded answers from Governor Ron DeSantis after recent reports alleged that he inappropriately diverted $10 million in Medicaid settlement funds towards his wife’s nonprofit, Hope Florida Foundation, instead of allocating funds intended to support healthcare in the state. The allegation comes as President Trump uses fraud as an excuse to deny life saving benefits to millions of Americans, particularly in Democratic states.

“Governor DeSantis reportedly used his office to divert funds for Floridians struggling to afford healthcare to his wife’s own organization, and this money was later used to fund Republican political initiatives. The Trump Administration is ignoring these serious allegations of corruption, but Oversight Democrats are demanding answers and accountability,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.

“Medicaid money is supposed to help people get healthcare. It is not supposed to be funneled through a nonprofit tied to the Governor’s family and end up in political campaigns,” said Ranking Member Maxwell Frost. “Floridians deserve to know how $10 million was diverted, who made that decision, and where their money went. That’s why we’re demanding answers from Governor DeSantis and his administration.”

In the letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Ranking Members Garcia and Frost wrote, “We are alarmed by recent reports suggesting you leveraged your official position to route $10 million from a Medicaid fraud settlement to a charitable organization run by your wife, Casey DeSantis. A Florida grand jury found that the DeSantis Administration “misappropriated” the funds but failed to file criminal charges. We are deeply concerned that funds meant to help children receive healthcare may have been diverted to defeat a ballot initiative you opposed. The role of the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit connected to and tasked with overseeing money for initiatives led by your wife, Casey DeSantis, is particularly alarming. The Trump Administration has used fraud investigations as a pretext for denying millions of dollars in federal healthcare funds to states run by Democratic governors yet has done nothing to hold your administration accountable for fraud. We are deeply concerned about waste, fraud and abuse of healthcare dollars as the cost of care increases for Florida families.”

In August 2026, a Florida grand jury found that Governor Ron DeSantis misappropriated funds towards the Hope Florida Foundation, a charitable organization run by Casey DeSantis, which may have been used to defeat a ballot initiative opposed by Governor DeSantis.

Source: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform-Democrats