Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Resigns from Congress Following Indictment and Ethics Violations

The resignation came amid charges that she stole $5 million in COVID-19 FEMA funds and made illegal campaign contributions. Fox News reported that Cherfilus-McCormick, who was indicted by a Miami grand jury in November 2025, is now running to regain her congressional seat in November 2026.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of Cherfilus-McCormick, a designation that bars her from receiving federal contracts, grants or other federal funds. Her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, along with other associates and affiliated entities named in the federal indictment, has also been suspended by DHS.

The House Ethics Committee found that Cherfilus-McCormick committed 18 campaign finance violations, five counts of false financial disclosures, three counts of misusing official funds and one count of lack of candor.

These findings emerged before her resignation, as the committee prepared to recommend punishment for allegedly funneling disaster relief funding through companies into her campaign. In her resignation statement, Cherfilus-McCormick wrote: 'Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th district.

DHS stated that Cherfilus-McCormick’s suspension aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.

The Trump Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is led by Vice President JD Vance. S. Small Business Administration has referred more than 560,000 fraudulent COVID-era loans totaling $22 billion to the Treasury for collection.