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Florida Speaker Names Ex-Rep. Gaetz to $1.5B Gulf Board

6/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez appointed former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz to the Triumph Gulf Coast board for a four-year term starting July 1 2026.
The seven-member board manages about $1.5 billion from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon settlement for projects in eight Panhandle counties.
Gaetz announced the appointment on X, said he was returning to public service, and thanked Perez.

History

Historical Context

On April 20 2010 the Deepwater Horizon explosion released oil into the Gulf, prompting BP to establish a $20 billion trust on June 16 2010 for natural-resource damages and compensation. In March 2012 BP agreed to a $7.8 billion settlement for individual and business claims. A 2014 federal ruling found BP grossly negligent, increasing penalties and cementing a federal-state settlement framework that later guides Gulf-coast oversight appointments.

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Story summary

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez appointed former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz to the Triumph Gulf Coast board for a four-year term starting July 1 2026.
The seven-member board manages about $1.5 billion from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon settlement for projects in eight Panhandle counties.
Gaetz announced the appointment on X, said he was returning to public service, and thanked Perez.

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