Dane Eagle

Cape Coral native Dane Eagle announced he will be resigning as Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary.

In a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Eagle showed his gratitude for the opportunity. His official last day will be Dec. 30.

“Serving in your administration has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity,” Eagle wrote. “At this point in my life, however, my responsibility to my growing family is of the utmost importance.”

Eagle joined the DeSantis administration in September 2020 after his bid for the 19th Congressional District was slimly dashed in the Republican Primary by eventual winner Byron Donalds.

Eagle took over as head of the DEO when the department faced a large backlog in unemployment insurance claims stemming from the pandemic.

He wrote to DeSantis, “When I joined your administration in September 2020, the state’s unemployment rate was 8.7%, which was quickly rebounding from the 13.9% rate a few months earlier due to the global pandemic.

“These economic headwinds also contributed to a growing crisis with the state’s reemployment assistance system operated by DEO, requiring an all-hands-on-deck effort to secure funding to modernize the system and swiftly help hard-working Floridians get back on their feet.”

Eagle formerly served as the state House majority whip from 2016 to 2018, and majority leader from 2018 to 2020. He was also vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee from 2018 to 2020. He won election to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012 in the then-new 77th District. He was re-elected to the House in 2014 and 2018 (he could not run again in 2020 due to term limits).

Eagle also touted the work done by the administration when it comes to Hurricane Ian relief efforts.

“We have responded to multiple disasters, including Hurricane Ian which devastated my home community, and awarded over a billion dollars in long-term disaster recovery funds to homeowners and communities across Florida,” Eagle wrote. “We led the nation in fully obligating over half-a-billion dollars to assist homeowners and prevent foreclosures in record time, we awarded bonus payments to over two hundred thousand first responders and law enforcement officers, and we announced over a hundred million dollars for infrastructure and workforce development projects across the state, which will help create countless jobs to support our growing economy.”

DeSantis, on Twitter, shared kind words for Eagle amidst his upcoming leave.

“Thank you, Secretary Dane Eagle, for your outstanding service to Florida’s businesses and workforce,” DeSantis wrote. “Under your leadership at Florida DEO, you helped to strengthen our communities and nation-leading economy. We wish you the best in your next endeavors.”

Eagle ended with his own kind words for DeSantis and members of the administration.

“These are only a few of the many examples of how, under your leadership, the exceptional people at DEO are assisting in advancing Florida’s economy by helping citizens, businesses and communities thrive,” Eagle wrote.

“Your leadership has made all aspects of Florida’s executive branch a well-oiled machine that promotes efficiency over bureaucracy, and the citizens of Florida are the ultimate beneficiaries of this success. I have no doubt that Florida — and DEO — will continue to excel under your bold leadership. Again, thank you for this extraordinary opportunity, but most importantly, thank you for keeping Florida free.”