Florida official newest to step down nationwide throughout COVID-19 response

A prime official concerned in Florida’s COVID-19 response is leaving his publish.

Jared Moskowitz, the director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Administration, shall be stepping down subsequent month, the division mentioned.

Moskowitz, who had been within the place for 2 years, mentioned he wished to spend extra time along with his spouse and two younger boys, ages 7 and 4.

“With 15 years in public workplace, time to hit the pause button to be with my household,” he mentioned on Twitter Monday. “I will be again.”

Moskowitz referenced the third anniversary of the lethal college capturing in his hometown of Parkland, Florida, in addition to the coronavirus pandemic in his publish, saying he’s reminded that “tomorrow isn’t assured.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged Moskowitz’s resignation throughout a press briefing on Monday. He cited the director’s taxing commute from Tallahassee to Broward County, that are 400 miles aside.

“It has been two years, he is labored extraordinarily arduous and his household’s virtually a world away, in some respects,” DeSantis mentioned.

“I believe Florida has one of the best emergency response within the nation,” he added. “I believe Jared was an enormous cause why.”

Moskowitz will stay in his publish via April 30 “to make sure a clean transition,” the Florida Division of Emergency Administration said. Deputy Director of Emergency Administration Kevin Guthrie will take his place, DeSantis confirmed.

Moskowitz has not mentioned what he plans to do subsequent. He beforehand served as a Democratic member of the Florida Home of Representatives from 2013 to 2019. He resigned to move the state’s Division of Emergency Administration after being appointed by DeSantis.

On Monday, the governor floated the potential of a federal publish in his future. “They need to actually make you FEMA director, and perhaps they may do this sometime,” DeSantis mentioned.

Moskowitz has overseen the state’s response to Hurricane Dorian, Isaias, Laura and Sally, in addition to COVID-19, together with testing and the vaccine rollout. Whereas DeSantis has not issued a statewide masks mandate, Moskowitz has been a powerful advocate for facial coverings through the pandemic.

Florida officers reacted to information of Moskowitz’s resignation, with Rep. Carlos Smith tweeting he’s an “unbelievable chief who arguably took on and sacrificed greater than any single authorities official in [Florida] throughout COVID and at nice private value.”

“His public service shall be missed, however we’ve not seen the final of him,” he added.

Will Weatherford, former speaker of the Florida Home of Representatives, tweeted, “I have to say I’ve not been stunned by his unbelievable management throughout a time of disaster in our state! I’m grateful for his service and excited to see what this subsequent chapter of life will convey for him and his household!”

Moskowitz is the most recent prime official to go away the DeSantis administration in current weeks, following the introduced departures of the heads of the Division of Youngsters and Households and Division of Enterprise and Skilled Regulation, in addition to the governor’s chief of workers.

He’s additionally certainly one of many officers concerned in COVID-19 response nationwide to step down through the pandemic. Every little thing from politics to emphasize have been cited as contributing components, with former performing Director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention Richard Besser telling ABC Information this month there’s been “a significant, unprecedented loss in public well being management throughout the nation.”

Prime officers like New York Metropolis Well being Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot and Ohio Well being Director Dr. Amy Acton are amongst those that stepped down through the pandemic.