TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) 鈥� A top Florida official responsible for his state's handling of the coronavirus outbreak is stepping down.
Jared Moskowitz, who heads Florida's Division of Emergency Management, told the USA TODAY NETWORK that an official announcement of his departure is expected by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Republican governor was scheduled to hold a news conference at the state Capitol on Monday afternoon, where he will likely be asked questions about the pending departure.
鈥淢y departure won鈥檛 be imminent,鈥� , adding that it would be a 鈥済radual transition.鈥� He did not give a precise timeline.
Moskowitz, a Democrat and former member of the state House, assumed the role shortly after DeSantis, a Republican, took office in 2018.
During his tenure, Moskowitz has overseen the emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak 鈥� a demanding and stressful role that, he said, has taken a toll on his family life.
鈥淢y kids are 7 and 4. When I started this job, they were 5 and 2,鈥� Moskowitz said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been in this job for 50% of my younger one鈥檚 life.鈥�
His departure was first announced by Florida Politics.
Spokespeople for the governor's office were not immediately available to comment.
