CFO Jimmy Patronis to Elon Musk and DOGE: Audit Federal Grants to Universities for Censorship Activities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued an official letter to Elon Musk in which he recommended that the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) audit federal grants to universities for censorship funding, specifically grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and government entities that partner with USAID, such as the National Science Foundation. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LETTER.

Federal censorship funding violates President Trump’s new executive order, “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.” By narrowing search queries with certain keywords — such as “misinformation,” “disinformation,” “narrative,” and “undesirable content” — CFO Patronis believes that DOGE could finally end the Biden-Harris administration’s taxpayer-funded censorship activities across the nation’s universities.

READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW.

February 6, 2025

Elon Musk

U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Washington, D.C., 20006

Dear Elon Musk:

As Chief Financial Officer for the State of Florida, I cannot fully express how important the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is to our country.

To support your mission, I strongly recommend that DOGE audit censorship grants to universities, specifically through the U.S. Department of Defense and government entities that partner with USAID, such as the National Science Foundation. Narrowing queries with certain keywords will prove highly fruitful; for example, “misinformation,” “disinformation,” “narrative,” “undesirable content,” to name a few. 

In September, I issued records requests to public universities in Florida inquiring about the use of taxpayer money for NewsGuard Technologies, Inc.; Global Disinformation Index; Global Engagement Center; and Graphika Technologies, Inc.

Although I have yet to receive responses for each records request, one response was revealing. It showed a purchasing order from the University of Central Florida (UCF) for a $13,500 NewsGuard subscription that was used for a larger U.S. Department of Defense project, specifically for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.

The purchasing order came with a NewsGuard licensing agreement that listed the specific name of the research project, which matched the name of a $500,000 DARPA award at the University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. The purchasing order also indicated that the NewsGuard subscription was needed to fulfill “DoD objectives” regarding a DARPA program that addressed so-called “misinformation” and “disinformation” across traditional media and social media.

A separate records response from the University of Florida showed an invoice for a $7,500 NewsGuard subscription, with an accompanying licensing agreement claiming to “help consumers distinguish legitimate news and information websites from those that provide unreliable or false information.”

While these two examples may seem small, they are clear indications of larger concerns. I strongly believe that an audit of federal grants to universities using the above keywords will reveal millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded censorship research. President Trump has said, “If we don’t have free speech, then we don’t have a free country.” He is absolutely right, and I urge DOGE to continue its work on behalf of the American People.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Patronis

Chief Financial Officer

State of Florida

c: Raymond Rodrigues, Chancellor of the Florida State University System

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis 
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).