Ben Sasse's Presidency at UF Marked by Controversial Spending and Appointments

During his 17-month tenure as president of the University of Florida (UF), Ben Sasse significantly increased his office's spending, reportedly tripling it and directing millions toward consulting contracts and high-paying positions for former GOP associates. Despite his commitment to political neutrality, Sasse's administration has been characterized by the hiring of former Senate staffers, including Raymond Sass and James Wegmann, who now hold prominent roles at UF, with Wegmann earning a substantial $725,000 while working remotely from Washington, D.C. Sasse's appointments have raised eyebrows, particularly as he increased the salaries of his former staff by an average of 44% compared to their previous Capitol Hill earnings. This shift contributed to a $4.3 million rise in presidential salary expenses compared to the last year of former president Kent Fuchs. Most of Sasse's political appointees are based outside Florida, leading to increased travel costs for the university, which soared to $633,000 in Sasse's first full fiscal year—over 20 times higher than Fuchs' average. In addition to personnel expenses, Sasse allocated $7.2 million in university funds for consulting services, far exceeding Fuchs' total consulting costs over eight years. A significant portion of this budget was directed to McKinsey & Company, with a $4.7 million contract aimed at strategic planning. However, details regarding this contract and other consulting agreements remain undisclosed, as public records requests have not been fulfilled. The lack of transparency surrounding Sasse's spending and appointments has sparked concern among stakeholders at the university.