President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in July toured Governor Ron DeSantis’ immigration detention facility in the Everglades, which the governor nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The Trump administration, focusing on its major deportation push, indicated that FEMA would award Florida a $608 million grant to cover the costs for the facility.
This week in a court filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier acknowledged that the promised federal reimbursement may never materialize. Uthmeier wrote in the filing: “The State took the risk (and still does) that federal funding will not materialize.”
According to a PBS report: “Florida is currently fronting the costs, which have exceeded $573 million, leading to concerns among state lawmakers that taxpayers may have to pay for the project.”
One of those state lawmakers, Republican Florida House Rep. Alex Andrade, responded to Uthmeier’s court filing on social media, writing: “$500,000,000 in no-bid contracts, without legislative approval, and we might not be reimbursed!?!?”
$500,000,000 in no-bid contracts, without legislative approval, and we might not be reimbursed!?!? https://t.co/m8trMbLm66
— Alex Andrade (@RAlexAndradeFL) February 26, 2026
This is not the first time Andrade has nettled DeSantis — it’s only the latest example of what is clearly dissension among Florida Republicans.
In 2025, Andrade led an investigation into the transfer of $10 million in Medicaid funds from a Medicaid settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation, which was founded by First Lady Casey DeSantis.
Andrade alleged that funds were transferred from the foundation to nonprofits and then ultimately a political committee controlled by Uthmeier, then-chief of staff for the governor. Andrade’s investigation has led to the opening of a criminal investigation. Both Uthmeier and DeSantis deny wrongdoing.