Treasury Department confirms investigation of DeSantis' migrant transport


An inspector general for the Treasury Department has confirmed it will investigate whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) improperly used funds intended for coronavirus aid to transport migrants, The Washington Post reports.
In a Friday letter sent to Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and other members of Congress, Deputy Inspector General Richard K. Delamar wrote, "We will review the allowability of use of [State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds] related to immigration generally, and will specifically confirm whether interest earned on SLFRF was utilized by Florida related to immigration activities, and if so, what conditions and limitations apply to such use."
The letter was in response to an inquiry from Markey and other members of Congress who were concerned that the spending DeSantis approved "violates federal law," per the Post. DeSantis said he would rely on a $12 million fund in the state's budget to relocate migrants. The Post previously reported that the money was actually interest earned on the over $8 billion in funding the state received as part of the American Rescue Plan, the last federal stimulus package.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Last month, DeSantis sent two chartered planes carrying approximately 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. He and fellow GOP Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas have garnered criticism from many for shipping migrants to designated sanctuary cities in protest of President Biden's immigration policies.
A Texas sheriff announced that his department was opening an investigation into DeSantis' flights, seeing as as they originated in San Antonio. The letter from the Treasury is the first public acknowledgment that the federal government is investigating the transports, Politico reports.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
NASA reveals ‘clearest sign of life’ on Mars yet
Speed Read The evidence came in the form of a rock sample collected on the planet
-
Former top FBI agents sue, claiming Trump purge
Speed Read The agents alleged they were targeted by a “campaign of retribution”
-
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk shot dead at 31
Speed Read Kirk was holding a debate session at Utah Valley University
-
Home Depots are the new epicenters of ICE raids
In the Spotlight The chain has not provided many comments on the ongoing raids
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Florida wages crosswalk war on public displays of pride
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign comes for colorful crosswalks, as Florida residents engage in guerrilla graffiti as a form of resistance