JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Monday he will issue steep fines on local officials who fire employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and is supporting a lawsuit to stop the city of Gainesville from imposing the requirement.

“We are here today to make it very clear that we are going to stand for the men and women who are serving us. We are going to protect Florida jobs,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Gainesville. “We are not going to let people be fired because of a vaccine mandate.”