Maryland’s new education inspector general releases first investigation in six months

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (WBFF) — Maryland taxpayers will spend nearly $16 billion on public schools this year. A record amount.

A Project Baltimore investigation has the state’s new education watchdog has not released a single investigative report in six months that found misuse of your tax dollars – which is raising concerns.

The Office of the Inspector General for Education was established in 2020 to safeguard that spending, by preventing waste, fraud and abuse. But it took roughly six months for Maryland’s new IG for Education to publish her first investigative report, which was posted Wednesday.

Natalia Medina Ahn was appointed by Governor Wes Moore and confirmed by the state senate earlier this year to be Maryland’s second Inspector General for Education (WBFF)

“When taxpayers fund an inspector general, they expect reports,” said David Williams, with the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. “This is not just about releasing reports. This is about fixing problems within the state.”

Natalia Medina Ahn was appointed by Governor Wes Moore and confirmed by the state senate earlier this year to be Maryland’s second Inspector General for Education. She started in April.

Project Baltimore, on Tuesday, emailed Ahn because she had yet to publish any investigative reports. In the email Project Baltimore asked, “Why, after six months in office, has the OIGE not released any investigative reports? When can taxpayers expect Ms. Ahn’s first investigative report to be published?”

OIGE response to Project Baltimore asking when taxpayers expect Ms. Ahn’s first investigative report to be published (WBFF)

The IG responded: “We are finalizing several reports/memoranda and anticipate publishing the first one in the next few days.”

The following day, on Wednesday, Ahn published a report into allegations that an administrator at The SEED School of Maryland attempted to inappropriately influence an educational survey. Ahn’s office found no wrongdoing.

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When Governor Moore appointed Ahn to the position, there was concern because Ahn was working for Governor Moore as his deputy legal counsel.

State Senator Justin Ready, who represents Carroll and Frederick Counties, spoke with Project Baltimore in March regarding Ahn’s nomination, “Are they truly going to be independent or are they there to just do maybe a political agenda or kind of watch the governor’s back versus watch out for taxpayer dollars?”

Project Baltimore interviewed Ahn in July and asked her about the concerns surrounding her appointment. And if she anticipated publishing reports prior to the election.

The Office of the Inspector General for Education was established in 2020 to safeguard that spending, by preventing waste, fraud and abuse (WBFF)

“I would be surprised if no reports were released before the election,” Ahn told Project Baltimore. “That would mean that we wouldn’t have completed a single investigation since I started. That’s not what I anticipate.”

The election is less than four weeks from now and taxpayers have their first investigative report from Ahn’s office, which found no wrongdoing.

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“It’s hard to believe that after spending $15 billion on education, that there are no problems within the education system, that there’s no waste, fraud or abuse?” Questioned Williams.

According to state records, the Office of the Inspector General for Education’s budget has grown significantly over the last few years. From fiscal year’s 2022 to 2027, the budget has doubled from $1.4 million to $2.8 million.

The previous Inspector General for Education, Rick Henry, left office in April. In the beginning of 2026, Henry’s office was releasing one investigative report a month.

“There should have been no slowdown in production of reports from the inspector general. Investigations were underway, reports should have been put out, and new investigations should have been initiated immediately,” said Williams. “There should be no lag time whatsoever.”

Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com