ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – State auditors arrived at the Orange County Administration Building Tuesday to begin an on-site review of county financial records, particularly expenses related to diversity programs and a new multicultural center.
The review follows a letter sent to Mayor Jerry Demings on July 24 from the Florida Department of Government Efficiency, which expressed concern over increased county spending and notified the county that auditors from the department, referred to as “Florida DOGE”, would be conducting a two-day audit on Aug. 5 and 6.
“We are prepared for the state’s Department of Government Efficiency to come in and get into all the processes,” Demings told News 6 on Monday. “Staff has already been collecting the documents they requested.”
[VIDEO: Florida DOGE demands records, access in Orange County government audit]
According to Demings, some of the requests appear to be part of a broader, statewide effort.
“In some regards, it feels like they are targeting Orange County, and in another regard, it’s fairly consistent with what they are doing across the state,” he said.
The state’s letter asks to inspect spending related to the county’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and construction costs associated with a new multicultural center.
Asked whether he felt the state’s focus on DEI spending carries a political undertone, Demings said, “It’s hard to say, but obviously they are concerned about any of the diversity, equality, and inclusion types of programs.”
[VIDEO: New Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia defends DOGE, ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ and home insurance costs]
In addition to the audit, the mayor is facing pushback over a newly signed agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreement requires Orange County corrections officers to transport certain detainees to federal immigration facilities, including one known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades.
The decision follows weeks of public debate and a warning from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier that local officials could face removal from office for noncompliance.
“Would it make sense for them to have their entire elected body removed from office and the governor insert whoever he wants to put in that position? The threat of removal was real,” Demings said when asked about the agreement.
On Monday evening, protesters gathered outside the county administration building to speak out against the ICE agreement. Among them was State Rep. Anna Eskamani, who said the mayor was not legally required to sign the deal.
“There’s definitely no law that requires you to facilitate transportation of detainees,” Eskamani said. “What Orange County needs to do is file a lawsuit.”
News 6 has contacted the state for clarification on when auditors plan to arrive and whether they’ve received any of the requested documents. As of Monday evening, no response had been received.