In an April 20 letter, FSU thanked members of the Florida congressional delegation for supporting the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security (CARES) Act. The legislation includes a $14.2 billion education stabilization fund, from which FSU will receive more than $29 million for COVID-19 relief at the institutional an student levels. The letter describes the CARES Act as "an important first step to help institutions and students weather the crisis."

FSU estimates that the COVID-19 crisis will cost the institution $74 million through the end of the summer. Congress will soon consider a follow-on to the CARES Act. The FSU letter to the Hill called on Congress to add additional resources to the education stabilization fund as well as a dedicated stream of funding to address COVID-19 impacts on research. The letter supports COVID-19 relief recommendations put forward by national higher education groups such as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.