Gov. DeSantis’ veto list marks winners and losers in the state budget

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto list is officially out, as he chopped about $1.7 billion for an assortment of projects.

The Governor eliminated funding for K-12 schools and higher education, projects improving local infrastructure, efforts helping local law enforcement agencies, the arts, and state prisons.

DeSantis’ final budget as Governor includes nearly $810 million in line-item vetoes. DeSantis also vetoed the transfer of $750 million the Legislature wanted to move into the state’s rainy-day fund.

In 2025, the House passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would increase the mandated cap on the budget stabilization fund. In 2026, the Legislature added a potential transfer of $750 million so the state would be prepared for the new requirement.

DeSantis vetoed $91.5 million to increase correctional officers’ salaries.

“I’ve been very supportive of corrections pay for the entire time I’ve been Governor because we’ve had a big crisis because it’s a tough job,” DeSantis said. He added that he vetoed the money because the House tied the raises to a provision to build a new prison.

“That was like a D.C. swamp game. They tried to hold hostage the corrections pay in order to generate more debt on behalf of the state of Florida when we’ve made so much progress in reducing debt,” DeSantis said during Monday’s budget signing news conference. “I’m not playing those games.”

DeSantis also made a $3 million line-item veto for grants and aids for Culture Builds Florida.

“This is terribly disappointing and surprising as the Secretary had recommended the entire list of passing applications submitted by the Florida Counsel on Arts and Culture,” said Jennifer Jones of the Florida Nonprofit Alliance.

Jones did acknowledge that $20 million in cultural and museum grants survived DeSantis’ pen. In 2024, DeSantis slashed that line item completely.

Higher education was not immune from DeSantis’ cuts.

Florida State University is missing out on $2.5 million to design and plan a state-of-the-art facility for the College of Nursing. Palm Beach State College’s $4.8 million to remodel an administration building was also cut.

Escaping DeSantis’ pen was $75 million to subsidize AIDS and HIV medicine for people who can’t afford it.

“No one should have to fight political battles just to access healthcare. Healthcare is not a political tactic, and people living with HIV deserve stability, dignity, and uninterrupted access to care,” said Equality Florida Executive Director Stratton Pollitzer.

“We are relieved and grateful that Florida lawmakers took an important step toward protecting access to lifesaving HIV care through the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides critical medication, treatment, and stability.”

To elaborate on his veto pen decisions, DeSantis said Monday that he vetoed items he considered “either inappropriate or maybe nice to have.”

“Nice to have is fine,” DeSantis said. “I want to fund things that we have to have.”

DeSantis has also been open that he uses his veto power to punish lawmakers who disagree with him.

Florida TaxWatch previously urged DeSantis to shoot down 621 projects or “budget turkeys” worth $830 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget. The organization’s criticism stemmed largely from lawmakers-sponsored projects that were not scrutinized during the Regular Session.

“It’s proliferated. In my view, it’s a problem. Two thousand member projects are in this budget,” Florida TaxWatch CEO Jeff Kottkamp said during a news conference earlier this month “That’s incredible. We’re simply every year looking more and more out like Congress.”