Florida CFO Issues Subpoenas to Orange County Workers Over Lack of Cooperation With State DOGE Review
Blaise Ingoglia says subpoenas were issued after county employees did not fully cooperate with the state's audit into government spending and DEI contracts
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said Wednesday that his office had issued subpoenas to Orange County workers after they failed to fully cooperate with a statewide review known as DOGE that is examining local governments for wasteful spending.
Ingoglia, a Republican, said the subpoenas were issued after county employees declined to provide records and that some workers appeared to follow a prepared script when asked questions. He said his office's review is looking in part at diversity, equity and inclusion contracts that local governments have signed, and that workers in other counties could face similar subpoenas.
Ingoglia would not say how many subpoenas had been issued. His office described the action as necessary after what it characterized as incomplete cooperation from county staff during interviews and document requests related to the state review.
The subpoenas mark an escalation in the state's effort to scrutinize municipal and county spending practices. State officials created the DOGE review to search for wasteful spending and to examine how local governments allocate funds, including payments tied to DEI initiatives.
Orange County, which includes Orlando, did not immediately provide a detailed response to the subpoenas. A spokesman for the county said officials were reviewing the notices and would determine the appropriate next steps. Requests for comment to the county mayor's office were not immediately returned.
Legal experts say subpoenas are a common tool for government investigations to compel testimony and the production of records, though they can prompt legal challenges depending on scope and claims of privilege. Ingoglia's announcement did not detail whether any legal or administrative actions would follow the subpoenas beyond seeking the records and cooperation of employees.
The DOGE review has drawn attention from local governments and advocacy groups as the state seeks documents and contracts related to employee training, consulting agreements and programs tied to diversity and inclusion. Officials conducting the review have said the goal is to identify contracts and spending they consider unnecessary or improperly authorized; critics have described the effort as politically driven scrutiny of DEI initiatives.
Ingoglia's office has signaled that the scope of the review could extend beyond Orange County. He said the subpoenas issued in the Orlando area were the first, but similar actions could be taken elsewhere if county and municipal workers do not comply fully with requests from the state review team.
The issuance of subpoenas comes as Florida's state government continues to press local governments on spending priorities and accountability. The developments add to ongoing tensions between state officials and some municipal leaders over policy areas that include employee training, public contracting and approaches to addressing equity and inclusion in government workplaces.
The investigation and the subpoenas are part of a broader, continuing effort by state officials to scrutinize local government expenditures; it is not yet clear whether the subpoenas will lead to enforcement actions or litigation. County officials have said they will review the subpoenas and respond through appropriate legal and administrative channels as required.