Rep. Jared Moskowitz tamped down rumors on Tuesday that President-elect Donald Trump is eyeing him to doubtlessly take cost on the Federal Emergency Administration Company.
“I appreciate the speculation but I am staying in Congress and running for re-election. It’s an honor to serve the people of Florida’s 23rd district,” Moskowitz (D-Fla.) wrote on X.
“To be clear, nothing was ever offered.”
On Monday, a number of studies emerged that Moskowitz was a high contender to helm FEMA beneath the incoming Trump administration. His congressional workplace didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Previous to his ascension into Congress again in January 2023, Moskowitz had served because the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Administration, which works carefully with the federal authorities on responding to pure disasters.
Moskowitz, 43, held that position from 2019 by way of 2021 beneath Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, regardless of hailing from a rival social gathering.
Usually thought to be one of many extra reasonable Democrats within the Home of Representatives, Moskowitz hasn’t been shy about criticizing his social gathering over its dealing with of antisemitism that erupted within the US within the wake of the Israel-Hamas battle.
Shortly after Trump introduced the creation of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) — which regardless of its title, isn’t truly a authorities division — Moskowitz expressed curiosity within the idea.
Then, earlier this month, he turned the primary Democrat to hitch the Home DOGE Caucus, helmed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
One among his key solutions is to transform FEMA’s place within the federal authorities. Moskowitz needs to take it out of the Division of Homeland Safety, which he believes has “become too big,” and needs the company to be extra distinguished within the president’s purview.
Furthermore, Moskowitz has argued that it will be important for Democrats to interact with DOGE and he has famous that almost all caucuses within the decrease chamber are bipartisan.
Since then, different Democrats similar to Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, have expressed curiosity in collaborating with DOGE on rooting out authorities waste, particularly in the case of the Pentagon.
Why Trump may wish to poach a Dem from the Home
Since Trump’s election victory, Republicans have misplaced or are poised to lose three seats within the Home. Trump had tapped Home GOP Convention Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as his choose for US ambassador to the United Nations and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) for nationwide safety adviser.
He additionally chosen former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for US legal professional basic, although that went up in flames. Gaetz introduced he received’t return to Congress and can deal with his new present with the One America Information Community.
That signifies that early subsequent yr, Republicans might briefly discover themselves with a one-seat majority, relying on the timing of Stefanik’s and Waltz’s resignations.
Probably exacerbating the state of affairs is Rep. Victoria Spartz’s (R-Ind.) assertion that she received’t “participate in the caucus” — although it’s not fully clear what she means.
If Trump manages to tug a Democrat out of the Home, it might make his life simpler, particularly as he hopes for Congress to maneuver rapidly and ship him key legislative wins early into his subsequent administration.
Moskowitz had been an unabashed critic of Trump, even pitching laws earlier this yr to call a federal jail in Miami after the president-elect.
Each Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have conveyed openness towards deciding on Democrats for his or her administration.
