TALLAHASSY, Fla. (AP) — A scrutiny of the Welfare Program, a signature initiative by Florida’s first lady Casey DeSantis, threatens to undermine a potential run to take over her husband as governor.
Gov. Ron Desantis’s own party has been investigating Hope Florida in revelation that the foundation gave two nonprofits $10 million from the state’s Medicaid settlement. These groups gave millions to the political committee chaired by the then head of staff at DeSantis, who campaigned against the failed referendum on recreational marijuana.
Republican lawmakers have been burning governor-appointers and foundation officials for weeks at combat hearings on state children and families, or DCF initiative Hope Florida.
Desantis and his administration defended the initiative, saying 30,000 people have moved out of government aid and saved the state $100 million.
“I hope Florida is a philosophy,” Casey DeSantis said Thursday at an event at St. Augustine. “That’s how can we help people in need and do better?”
A Desantis spokesman said he and the First Lady “have no roles” to the foundation, but they “fostered that effort and lended support for its mission.”
DCF and several people named in this story did not respond to requests for comment.
See our research into Hope Florida and its Foundation’s spending.
Promoting to reduce government dependence
September 9, 2021: Florida launches to use state employees to connect poor Floridians with community-based nonprofits and faith institutions, and separates them from government support.
August. 25, 2023: The Hope Florida Foundation, according to its article, is created as a nonprofit organization supporting DCF in the “charity only” role. Under federal law, such 501(c)(3) nonprofits must comply with strict restrictions on lobbying and political campaigns.
August 2024: DCF does not publish the Foundation’s tax documents, financial plans, code of ethics, missions and results, as required by law annually.
Donation of $10 million
September 27, 2024: Florida has reached a $67 million settlement in an over-dispute with Centene Corp., the state’s largest Medicaid contractor. Under the agreement, Centene will donate $10 million to the Florida Foundation Hope.
October 11, 2024: James Uthmeier, then-head of staff at Desantis, set up a conversation with Amy Ronshausen, executive director of the nonprofit Save Our Society, according to a text message obtained by the Associated Press. At the time, Uthmeier was chairing a political committee against the Third Amendment, a doomed marijuana referendum.
October 13, 2024: Secure Florida’s Future, a nonprofit organization led by the Florida Chamber of Commerce president, applies for a $5 million grant from the Hope Florida Foundation. Mark Wilson, future chairman of Secure Florida, proposes a “long-term targeted business partner recruitment strategy and public awareness campaign.” The application does not specifically outline how the funds will be used.
October 14, 2024: The Hope Florida Foundation Board has been officially notified of its $10 million contribution, according to recently published tax documents. The board has also described Secure Florida’s $5 million grant application from the future. “This proposal was developed in collaboration with the department and administrative management,” reads a copy of the meeting minutes obtained by the AP.
Where did the money go?
October 16, 2024: According to Joshua Hay, chairman of the foundation’s committee, the Florida Foundation hopes have wired $5 million to secure Florida’s future.
October 17, 2024: Secure Florida’s Future will donate $2 million to Uthmeier control the PAC, according to the state’s campaign finance database. A few days later, Secure Florida’s Future will send out an additional $1.75 million.
October 18, 2024: According to a text shared with the Associated Press, Ronschausen’s message is hoping for a grant application that Florida Foundation lawyer Jeff Aaron is planning to file with the charity. Aaron texts in Ronschausen’s text, a copy of a letter submitted a few days ago by the future of secure Florida.
“I’ll do that for the same amount and let’s see that the board agrees,” texts Aaron.
“I just sent an email,” replies Ronschausen.
Aaron replies: “I’ve received it! Can you send me the wire instructions?”
October 22, 2024: According to Hay, the Hope Florida Foundation is wired $5 million to save our society from drugs.
October 23, 2024: Save society from drugs, donates $1.6 million to keep Florida clean, followed by another $3.15 million the next day.
November. 5, 2024: The marijuana revision is supported by the majority of voters, but excludes the 60% threshold required to pass.
February. 17, 2025: Desantis appoints Uthmeier as state attorney general.
The probe begins
April 11, 2025: The flow of funds from the Hope Florida Foundation to nonprofits has donated millions of people to Usmeer’s PAC, first reported by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times.
April 15, 2025: Hay testifies under oath at the Florida House Subcommittee, chaired by Republican Rep. Alex Andrade. He wants a Florida mission, but admits that “a mistake has been made.”
“We can’t see what funds were used,” Hay says. “There is no monitoring procedure.”
April 16, 2025: The Hope Florida Foundation has published its tax documents and bylaws.
April 22, 2025: Uthmeier tells reporters that “it wasn’t part of securing a deal” for Centene’s donation, but “everything looks legal.”
“I’m happy what we did,” Usmeyer says. “We are extremely grateful for these groups that helped us step up and secure a big victory.”
April 24, 2025: Around 8am, Andredo announced that Aaron, Ronschausen and Wilson were compiling the committee’s investigation after they refused to testify.
“I am confident that James Usmeer and Jeff Aaron engaged in conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud, and that several political parties played a role in the misuse of the $10 million Medicaid fund,” says Andrade. “I’ll leave the rest of the investigation to the FBI and the Department of Justice.”
About an hour and a half later, Governor Desantis calls the probe “smears” ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Republican House Speaker Daniel Perez told reporters that the chamber’s oversight was not over and “all options are still at the table with Hope in Florida.”
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Associated Press writer Stephanie Mattatt from West Palm Beach, Florida contributed. Payne is a legional member of the Associated Press/Reports’ American State University News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit, national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on infiltrated issues.
