Florida AG Subpoenas Jacksonville Transit Agency Over Layoffs

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has opened a state investigation into the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, subpoenaing the agency as it manages a $39 million budget deficit and the elimination of nearly 200 positions.

The subpoena targets interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson. It requires the production of internal management communications and records on tuition reimbursements, according to multiple reports, including First Coast News. The attorney general's office had not confirmed the inquiry when Florida's Voice reached out for comment.

The state's inquiry follows the workforce reductions JTA carried out to close its budget gap. For the roughly 200 workers who lost their jobs, the investigation signals that the circumstances surrounding the layoffs — particularly spending decisions such as tuition reimbursements — will now face formal scrutiny, with potential implications for how the agency accounts for the cuts.

JTA confirmed receipt of the subpoena and pledged cooperation. "The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has received a subpoena from the State Attorney General's Office and is prepared to fully cooperate," an agency spokesperson said. "The JTA remains committed to transparency and accountability and will provide information as requested throughout this process."

The state action drew an immediate response at City Hall. City Council Member Rory Diamond urged municipal leaders to open their own public inquiry into the agency's oversight.

"The taxpayers, the riders, and all the decent people who were fired by JTA deserve answers and accountability," Diamond said, calling on the City Council to formally question the transit board and executive leadership.

Diamond also criticized Mayor Donna Deegan directly, targeting her response to the transit board's composition and her management of specialized initiatives such as the autonomous vehicle project.

Deegan's administration responded by emphasizing the agency's state-level structure. "It's important to remember that JTA is a state agency. Its staff is made up of state employees, the majority of its board is appointed by the Governor, and its budget is reviewed and approved by the Jacksonville City Council," her office stated. The administration added that it supports efforts to clarify the facts while working to limit transit disruption for residents.

The board governance question now sits at the center of the dispute. Because the Governor appoints the majority of JTA's board while the City Council reviews its budget, responsibility for oversight is split between state and municipal authorities — a structure that both the attorney general's investigation and Diamond's proposed council inquiry will test.

The subpoena raises the level of scrutiny facing the regional transit provider as it works to stabilize operations and adjust service schedules across Duval County. Riders and the agency's remaining workforce should expect continued service adjustments while the investigation proceeds, and further detail on the tuition reimbursement records could emerge if the attorney general's office confirms and expands its inquiry.