Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state will return approximately $878 million in federal funds after a meeting with Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn’t even figure out how to accept it,” DeSantis said.

“Today, I met with @elonmusk and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the same day. Other states should follow Florida in supporting DOGE’s efforts!” he added.

For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn't even figure out how to accept it. Today, I met with @elonmusk and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the… pic.twitter.com/uWyloPAhBU

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 21, 2025

A closer look:

“Almost a billion dollars of your taxpayer money saved,” Elon Musk said.

Almost a billion dollars of your taxpayer money saved https://t.co/ZitGgZO41S

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2025

From the New York Post:

Last month, DeSantis announced he was taking a page from Musk’s playbook and creating a Florida DOGE task force to “further eliminate waste within state government.” Other GOP governors in Iowa, New Hampshire and elsewhere have taken similar steps as well.

Musk praised DeSantis during the 2024 campaign cycle but was careful about outright endorsing him.

DeSantis’ primary campaign irked President Trump, who wanted him to sit it out. Relations between the two Republicans had been frosty in the months that followed Trump’s resounding 2024 primary win.

Last month, Trump pre-emptively endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) to serve as Florida governor. Donalds later entered the race and quickly surged in most of the subsequent polling of the 2026 race.

“My view is, is Donald Trump just got into office. I want these congressmen focused on enacting his agenda. They haven’t done very much yet,” DeSantis later said of Donalds.

DeSantis says Florida returned $878M in taxpayer funds to federal government after meeting with Musk, DOGE https://t.co/cXWsSfquWl

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 22, 2025

DeSantis says Florida returned $878M in taxpayer funds to fed government after meeting with Musk, DOGE https://t.co/PtGBg6r1nu pic.twitter.com/kCxeQkSYgU

— New York Post (@nypost) March 22, 2025

Fox News reports:

DeSantis announced last month the creation of Florida’s DOGE task force to “further eliminate waste within state government, save taxpayers money, and ensure accountability in Florida.”

“Florida has set the standard for fiscally conservative governance, and our new Florida DOGE task force will do even more to serve the people of Florida,” DeSantis said at the time. “It will eliminate redundant boards and commissions, review state university and college operations and spending, utilize artificial intelligence to further examine state agencies to uncover hidden waste, and even audit the spending habits of local entities to shine the light on waste and bloat.”