More Fraud, Waste, And Abuse Under Ron DeSantis' Watch
Another Scathing Federal Monitoring Report Shows that Commissioner Manny Diaz is Still Mismanaging $200.0 in State and Federal Funds
Updated May 8, 2025
Martinis with McGovern is heavily focused on the commonalities between 1972 and today. Which is to say, we talk a lot about civil rights. Which is to say, if you read Martinis with McGovern, you are - at least mildly - interested in the rights of people who are often ignored by politics and policy. BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Immigrants, Children, Women, and Disabled Americans, specifically.
One of the US Department of Education’s (USDOE) most sacred obligations is to monitor how states are serving people who have been diagnosed with one or more disabilities. In February of 2024, members of the USDOE Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) visited Florida to do just that. When they concluded their work, they were blunt with Commissioner Manny Diaz and his team. “It’s bad, real bad,” one of them reportedly said.
I’ve been writing about the mismanagement of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs nationwide since March of 2023.
I’ve specifically been writing about my first-hand experience with Florida’s Vocational Rehabilitation since April of 2023 in a series entitled Weaponized Bureaucrats.
It’s a sordid tale of mismanagement, retribution, retaliation, and an epic failure to serve disabled students. Not by the people who were hired to serve them (VR Counselors, for example) but, rather, by the people who hired them (Tallahassee HQ management) and this monitoring report recognizes exactly who’s responsible for the on-going destructive management style employed by and encouraged by Commissioner Manny Diaz since his days as an assistant high school principal.
As I reported on in Part 1 , the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) was the subject of a very damaging monitoring report in 2017 that resulted in the “relinquishing” of around $40.0 in funds during Governor Ron DeSantis’ tenure. Moreover, Florida was the only state in the nation to submit falsified data to the USDOE.
To say the least, I’ve been eager to see if they have righted the ship. They haven’t.
Florida's Vocational Rehabilitation: USDOE Calls for Immediate Corrections
There is no other way to put it; The 2024 monitoring report from the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) shows serious and significant fraud, waste, and abuse in the Florida Department of Education’s management of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR).
Key Findings Demand Attention
The report raises serious concerns about the accuracy and reliability of VRs data. Underreporting of key services and a lack of robust internal controls are hindering the ability to accurately assess program effectiveness. RSA identified issues with financial accounting, cash drawdowns, and contract administration. They concluded that the lack of controls raises questions about VRs ability to manage federal funds.
Inaccurate data are flanked by outdated and restrictive policies, creating barriers for both VR counselors and the individuals they serve. High turn-over, low pay and micro-managing rounds out the picture. All of which are contributing factors to low participation rates and a lack of support for disabled Floridians.
Recommendations and Directives
Both the 2018, RSA report and the 2024, report direct VR to take serious and immediate corrective actions. VR is required to undergo a complete data overhaul governing both collection and reporting. VR must modernize policies in a way that best serves disabled Floridians. VR must expand services. And VR must improve financial management practices are needed to ensure that federal funds are used responsibly and effectively.
This monitoring report is a wake-up call. It’s findings were predictable and preventable. It is incumbent on Governor Ron DeSantis to take immediate action to insure that disabled Floridians are supported in their efforts to find and keep employment and to insure the $200.0 million dollar program is effectively managed.
To achieve that solemn responsibility, Governor DeSantis should appoint new members to the Florida Rehabilitation Council who are willing to provide effective oversight. Governor DeSantis should also replace Commissioner Manny Diaz who has ignored the known issues within VR for the entirety of his tenure just as he has ignored pervasive problems with Florida Virtual School and Florida Scholar’s Academy. The Governor should also replace Mike Blackburn, who as the FLDOE Inspector General should be catching these deficiencies before it gets to the feds and who is currently being sued for disparate treatment and retaliation. Governor DeSantis should also take seriously the calls to move VR to a more capable agency. If there were such a thing in Florida.
But, then again, maybe DeSantis and Diaz believe that using taxpayer dollars to help disabled Floridians find and keep employment (the “I” in DEI) is just more WOKE Socialism.
Read on for more details on the monitoring report.
Data Reporting and Internal Controls:
Inaccurate Reporting - The report details on-going inaccuracies in how DVR reports VR services, leading to an unreliable portrayal of performance.
Insufficient Internal Controls - The report finds that VR lacks effective internal controls to ensure accurate data collection and reporting and directs VR to correct inaccuracies in previously submitted federal financial reports.
Policies and Procedures:
Outdated Policies - USDOE found that VR's manuals and policies do not reflect current statutory and regulatory requirements and uses “Restrictive Language” which hinders VR counselors from providing quality services. VR was directed to update their documents.
Service Provision:
Limited Training Services - The report identified that VR has low participation rates in training services in postsecondary education and career services leading to low quality employment opportunities. VR was directed to “examine” the quality and range of services and outcomes.
Financial Management:
Insufficient Accounting of Expenditures - the report finds that VR does not meet accounting requirements and are not tracking and reporting funds accurately.
Excessive Cash Drawdowns - VR is drawing funds from the Grants Management System (GMS) in excess of immediate needs.
Inaccurate Reporting of Administrative Costs - The report shows inconsistencies in reporting administrative costs on financial reports. The report directs VR to establish strong internal controls related to the period of performance for the management of the Federal award and to update financial reporting procedures to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Contract Administration and Monitoring:
Insufficient Contract Administration - VR lacks effective internal controls, including a lack of written policies, for contract management and oversight. USDOE also directs VR to update and implement monitoring policies and procedures.
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS):
Unallowable Use of Funds - Monitors found that contracts for pre-employment transition services included unallowable services and activities. The report directs VR to cease requiring pre- and post-service assessments in the provision of pre-employment transition services and to develop or revise internal controls related to the provision of pre-employment transition services.
Staff Capacity:
The report finds a high vacancy rates in field service positions, which effects the performance and outcomes of the entire agency. It also found that VR management inappropriately micro-manages VR counselors, which results in delays in service delivery.
Next Steps:
The Florida Department of Education is required to submit a corrective action plan to the US Department of Education within 45 days of the issuance of the final monitoring report. VR must also implement effective internal controls and come into compliance with federal requirements.
May 8, 2025 Update
On May 2, 2025, Governor DeSantis appointed twelve new members to the Florida Rehabilitation Council. Fixing this systemic problem now falls, in part, to Derek Arnold, Margaret “Peggy” Aune, Bonnie Barlow, Diane Cholcher, Farides Garcia, Richard Ippolito, Chris Leto, Paul Micklow, Nicole Reed, Kelly Rogers, Meredith Stanfield, and Alisa Stock.
Excellent read