Rep. Jared Moskowitz tamped down rumors on Tuesday that President-elect Donald Trump is eyeing him to probably take cost on the Federal Emergency Administration Company.
“I admire the hypothesis however I’m staying in Congress and operating for re-election. It’s an honor to serve the individuals of Florida’s twenty third district,” Moskowitz (D-Fla.) wrote on X.
“To be clear, nothing was ever provided.”
On Monday, a number of reviews emerged that Moskowitz was a high contender to helm FEMA below 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 intently with the federal authorities on responding to pure disasters.
Moskowitz, 43, held that position from 2019 by way of 2021 below Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, regardless of hailing from a rival celebration.
Usually considered one of many extra reasonable Democrats within the Home of Representatives, Moskowitz hasn’t been shy about criticizing his celebration over its dealing with of antisemitism that erupted within the US within the wake of the Israel-Hamas warfare.
Shortly after Trump introduced the creation of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) — which regardless of its identify, shouldn’t be really a authorities division — Moskowitz expressed curiosity within the idea.
Then, earlier this month, he turned the primary Democrat to affix the Home DOGE Caucus, helmed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
Considered one of his key strategies is to remodel FEMA’s place within the federal authorities. Moskowitz desires to take it out of the Division of Homeland Safety, which he believes has “turn out to be too massive,” and needs the company to be extra distinguished within the president’s purview.
Furthermore, Moskowitz has argued that it’s important for Democrats to have interaction with DOGE and he has famous that almost all caucuses within the decrease chamber are bipartisan.
Since then, different Democrats equivalent 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 on the subject 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 lawyer normal, although that went up in flames. Gaetz introduced he gained’t return to Congress and can give attention to his new present with the One America Information Community.
That signifies that early subsequent yr, Republicans may briefly discover themselves with a one-seat majority, relying on the timing of Stefanik’s and Waltz’s resignations.
Doubtlessly exacerbating the scenario is Rep. Victoria Spartz’s (R-Ind.) assertion that she gained’t “take part within the caucus” — although it’s not fully clear what she means.
If Trump manages to drag a Democrat out of the Home, it may make his life simpler, particularly as he hopes for Congress to maneuver shortly 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 choosing Democrats for his or her administration.
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