--- title: "GAO: Florida detention centre cost 171% more than ICE median" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/gao-florida-detention-centre-cost-171-more-than-ice-median" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/gao-florida-detention-centre-cost-171-more-than-ice-median" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/gao-florida-detention-centre-cost-171-more-than-ice-median.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/gao-florida-detention-centre-cost-171-more-than-ice-median" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-30T13:46:04.954Z" source_reported: "2026-09-30T12:51:06.000Z" updated: "2026-09-30T13:46:04.954Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-30T12:59:03.988Z" --- # GAO: Florida detention centre cost 171% more than ICE median *Federal watchdog found no contract authorising Alligator Alcatraz as a detention facility.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. GAO report, FEMA data, and named officials provide multiple sourced facts, raising trust to 86. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Context, quotes, specific data and future steps give the piece a high craft score of 95. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured; no clickbait or exaggerated claims, resulting in a low hype score. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Florida's Alligator Alcatraz detention centre charged $249 per detainee per day, a rate 171% higher than Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) median of $92, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. - The GAO found that ICE did not have a contract or agreement authorising the use of the Florida Soft-Sided Facility as a federal immigration detention centre. - FEMA awarded Florida $608.4 million in September 2025 for detention support, with approximately $58.2 million disbursed by May 2026 for operating costs. - The facility operated for about a year and closed in June 2026. A federal watchdog reported that Florida's Alligator Alcatraz detention centre charged $249 per detainee per day. This rate was 171% higher than the median rate of $92 charged by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in fiscal year 2026. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) also found that ICE lacked a contract or agreement authorising the Florida Soft-Sided Facility's operation as a federal immigration detention centre. The facility was managed by Florida's Division of Emergency Management and contractors. The federal government reimbursed the state through a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programme. FEMA awarded Florida $608.4 million on 30 September 2025. By May 2026, approximately $58.2 million of this had been disbursed for allowable operating costs, including staffing, supplies, meals, and detainee services. The Alligator Alcatraz facility opened in July 2025 and closed in June 2026. ## Disagreement on authorisation The GAO stated that ICE did not have a contract or agreement authorising the Florida Soft-Sided Facility as a federal immigration detention centre. The Tampa Bay Times digest reported that the DeSantis administration ran the site without proper authorisation from federal immigration officials. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports below mention the specific findings of the DHS Office of Inspector General inspection regarding detention standards, such as living space, recreation, medical care, food service, and personal hygiene, which were detailed in the full IBTimes UK report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 83% (5) - Centre: 17% (1) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 6 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-30T12:59:03.988Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-30T15:45:36.155Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - IBTimes UK led on the high cost of the Alligator Alcatraz detention centre, reporting the GAO's finding that it charged $249 per detainee per day, 171% more than ICE's median rate. The outlet also highlighted the GAO's finding that ICE had no contract or agreement authorising the facility's use. It included comments from Stephanie Hartman, communications director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, who dismissed the GAO, stating, 'Nobody takes the GAO seriously.' IBTimes UK also reported on a separate DHS Office of Inspector General inspection that found the facility did not comply with detention standards regarding living space, recreation, medical care, food service, and personal hygiene. Governor Ron DeSantis was quoted defending the centre, saying officials had taken steps to exceed federal requirements. The outlet noted the GAO's recommendation for ICE to develop a strategic plan for detention expansion. ### Centre - The Tampa Bay Times digest focused on the GAO report's finding that the DeSantis administration ran the Alligator Alcatraz site without proper authorisation from federal immigration officials. The digest also mentioned the report raised concerns about the facility's costs. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 3 - veryHigh: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [IBTimes UK](https://ibtimes.co.uk/gao-alligator-alcatraz-detention-bed-rate-1822924) — 'Nobody Takes the GAO Seriously': Florida Official Dismisses Report on Alligator Alcatraz Funding - [Tampa Bay Times](https://tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2026/09/29/alligator-alcatraz-gao-report-desantis-trump-ice) — New federal report raises concerns about Alligator Alcatraz costs - [The Daily Item](https://dailyitem.com/wire/ice-wasted-taxpayer-money-on-alligator-alcatraz-with-no-contract-report-finds/article_9a65c069-8229-539a-b652-9a2eae54a0c1.html) — ICE wasted taxpayer money on Alligator Alcatraz with no contract, report finds - [Lodinews.com](https://lodinews.com/news/national/article_cbed190b-a2ea-5997-99a2-6217683b5800.html) — ICE wasted taxpayer money on Alligator Alcatraz with no contract, report finds - [Miami Herald](https://miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article317420258.html) — ICE wasted taxpayer money on Alligator Alcatraz with no contract, report finds - [NBC Miami](https://nbcmiami.com/news/local/alligator-alcatraz-cost-taxpayers-more-federal-report-says/3865983) — 'Alligator Alcatraz' cost taxpayers more, federal report says ## Questions **How much did the Alligator Alcatraz detention centre charge per detainee?** The Government Accountability Office reported that the Alligator Alcatraz detention centre charged $249 per detainee per day. This was 171% higher than the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's median rate of $92 in fiscal year 2026. **Was the Alligator Alcatraz facility authorised as a federal detention centre?** According to the Government Accountability Office, ICE did not have a contract or agreement authorising the Florida Soft-Sided Facility to operate as a federal immigration detention centre. The Tampa Bay Times digest also stated the site ran without proper federal authorisation. **How much federal funding did Florida receive for detention support?** FEMA awarded Florida $608.4 million on 30 September 2025, for detention support. By May 2026, approximately $58.2 million of this amount had been disbursed for allowable operating costs. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/gao-florida-detention-centre-cost-171-more-than-ice-median. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "GAO: Florida detention centre cost 171% more than ICE median", https://mediabias.news/politics/gao-florida-detention-centre-cost-171-more-than-ice-median