University of Florida Faces Scrutiny Over Travel Expenses

The University of Florida incurred significant travel expenses exceeding $211,000 for highly paid Republican hires of former President Ben Sasse, who allowed them to work remotely while occasionally visiting campus. Over 17 months, more than half of the expenses were attributed to airfare and train tickets, in addition to nearly $50,000 for hotels. The university provided over 1,500 itemized expenses in response to public records requests, revealing that many costs lacked specific destination details. Notably, a $3,300 plane ticket for a trip to San Francisco and various meal costs were included, although it remains unclear who approved these expenses. Concerns have been raised regarding the use of public funds, particularly as university staff are typically limited in their travel spending. Sasse resigned unexpectedly in July, intensifying scrutiny of these expenditures.