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2d ago

Florida Subpoenas 16 Orange County Employees in Escalating DOGE Audit

State leaders frame the inquiry as groundwork for potential property-tax changes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis points to Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia as they both announce issuing “investigative subpoenas” to Orange County employees during a press conference in Orlando on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. The subpoenas are to search for information that may have been hidden or deleted by the employees during a DOGE audit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia speaks as Gov. Ron DeSantis watches at left as they both announce issuing “investigative subpoenas” to Orange County employees during a press conference in Orlando on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. The subpoenas are to search for information that may have been hidden or deleted by the employees during a DOGE audit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
DeSantis Administration Targets Orange County in Property Tax Fight

Overview

  • Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia issued the first investigative subpoenas under the state’s Department of Government Efficiency, serving 16 Orange County employees including top attorney Jeff Newton.
  • Ingoglia alleges county staff gave incomplete, scripted responses and possibly tampered with DEI and grant records, citing tips about file renaming and gaps such as only one of six DEI grants appearing in a trove of 1.2 million emails.
  • Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings rejects the claims, says the county fully cooperated, pledges compliance with the legal orders, and characterizes the state’s actions as politically motivated intimidation.
  • The subpoenas seek documents and computer logs on DEI, climate initiatives, procurement, and grants, including guidance to employees on record preservation and interactions with groups serving Black, Caribbean, and LGBTQ communities.
  • Officials said FDLE digital forensic units could be deployed and warned similar subpoenas may reach other counties as the broader audit campaign continues.