Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed in his 2026–27 budget to transfer the University of South Florida’s Sarasota‑Manatee campus to New College of Florida, giving New College more than 32 acres of land, new residence halls and an under‑construction lab. New College would assume related debt but would not inherit USF employees or students; USF would offer teach‑out provisions so current students can complete degrees. The plan revives an earlier effort to reshape New College after a conservatively appointed board overhauled leadership and spending. Critics warn the transfer risks politicizing academic missions and amplifying New College’s already high per‑student costs and administrative ratios; supporters cast it as consolidation to improve facilities and capacity. The proposal must clear the state legislature and carries implications for governance, program continuity and state oversight of public institutions.