Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing to reduce state spending through a new efficiency initiative, but the Resilient Florida grant program has secured continued funding. Originally set to expire next year, the program was renewed unanimously by the legislature and now draws from gaming revenues. It supports local efforts against flooding and sea level rise amid acknowledged climate vulnerabilities.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, nearing the end of his second term, is leading efforts to cut government spending, drawing inspiration from the Trump administration. His proposed budget is 10 percent lower than the 2019 budget in inflation-adjusted, per-capita terms. To achieve these reductions, he established a state version of the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), led by his chief financial officer, who hosts a YouTube show titled "Government Gone Wild."
The DOGE report, released last month, criticized local climate initiatives as irresponsible spending. It highlighted Jacksonville's electric vehicle purchases, St. Petersburg's sustainability and resilience officer, Miami's bus and rail expansions, and Palm Beach County's Office of Resilience, which aims to reduce vulnerabilities from flooding, storms, extreme heat, and saltwater intrusion. The report referenced a federal Department of Energy finding that scientific evidence does not support long-term increases in extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods.
Despite this, laws signed by DeSantis recognize Florida's vulnerability to flooding from increased rainfall, severe storms, and sea level rise, mandating regular threat assessments. Launched during his first term, the Resilient Florida program has distributed over $1 billion in grants to local governments, which must match the funds. This rivals the Federal Emergency Management Agency's $5 billion Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program nationwide.
Projects funded include living shorelines at the Pensacola naval base to combat erosion, relocation of a Fort Pierce wastewater treatment plant to avoid high-tide flooding, and in Palm Beach County, raising an island park against sea-level rise and building a $30 million storm drain system—though DeSantis vetoed additional funding for the latter last summer.
Republican state legislator Jim Mooney, representing the Florida Keys, praised the program for requiring shovel-ready projects and matching local property taxes. "The idea is you need to have shovel-ready projects, because getting these grants is hard," Mooney said. In his district, it has financed subterranean drainage pipes to mitigate residential flooding from high tides.
Set to expire in 2025, Resilient Florida was reauthorized last year with unanimous legislative support and no expiration date. It now receives funding from the Seminole gaming compact, allocating $150 million next year. Mooney noted, "I think it would’ve continued to be funded [without the gaming revenue], it would’ve just been more of a rollercoaster ride."
Experts like Mathew Sanders from the Pew Charitable Trusts attribute the program's endurance to Florida's economic reliance on its coastline, including ecotourism and beaches. "There’s a direct connection in Florida between the ecological health of the coastline and their ability to generate revenue," Sanders said. Similar challenges face resilience efforts elsewhere, such as federal pauses under the Trump administration and cuts in Louisiana under Governor Jeff Landry.
