January 16, 2026
Gary Collins
January 16, 2026
As Maryland’s 2026 legislative session opened in Annapolis on Wednesday, a long-dormant idea began to surface with some interest: Should the state establish an independent statewide inspector general to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse across government?
The renewed informal debate was sparked in part by Spotlight on Maryland’s recent reporting on comments from Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming, whose office investigates misconduct within city government.
“This state, which I hear is the richest in the United States of America, does not have an inspector general to watch out for the public,” said Cumming last week during a Zoom interview. She warned that without an independent watchdog, Maryland risks leaving taxpayer dollars vulnerable.
“We need to know we have an independent watchdog watching our money,” Cumming said.
Through a few recent audits, Maryland has flagged hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable spending, mismanagement and losses across multiple state agencies — yet unlike most neighboring states, it has no independent, statewide inspector general with the authority to investigate wrongdoing, compel testimony or refer cases for prosecution.
As audits continue to document financial exposure without clearly documented consequences, the absence of a centralized watchdog has become a question of accountability for taxpayers and lawmakers alike at the start of the legislative session.
‘An expansive mission’
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, has pushed back against the notion that the state lacks adequate safeguards. Asked directly by FOX45 News whether the state should establish a statewide inspector general, Moore said current systems already provide accountability.
“We have mechanisms all throughout state government that actually is showing what are the performance indicators, what are the measures to ensure taxpayer dollars are wisely being used,” Moore said. He added that when infractions, particularly illegal ones, occur, “there is accountability to be had for that.”
But it’s unclear what consequences have followed within Maryland agencies after the alleged misappropriation and loss of taxpayer dollars identified in state audits.
Central to Moore’s argument is the administration’s emphasis on performance management.
The governor has repeatedly pointed to one of his early hires, whom he claimed was one of his first: a chief performance officer. A review of the original job posting for that position on the state’s jobs database showed the Moore-Miller administration posted the job in May 2023, four months after Moore took office.
The job posting said the state’s chief performance officer role was framed around “designing the State of Maryland’s approach to performance and service delivery.” The posting made no reference to investigations or enforcement related to waste, fraud or abuse.
Pressed on that distinction by FOX45 News, Moore said the scope has expanded, describing the function as tied to procurement with “an expansive mission, now to also include financial audits.”
‘Effective’ audits
Meanwhile, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, also a Democrat, told Spotlight on Maryland on Wednesday that the state already has an entity fulfilling the role many advocates may envision. Pointing to the Department of Legislative Audits, Ferguson said the agency “fundamentally is one of the most professional and effective entities” in state government.
Ferguson added that the department’s mission has been carried out for decades to examine both financial and performance issues to identify waste, fraud and abuse.
Asked whether high-profile fraud cases in other states, including Minnesota, could be happening in Maryland, Ferguson said he does not believe so.
“I believe our audits are covering and looking where there are gaps,” Ferguson said.
David Turner, communications director and senior advisor for Moore, told Spotlight on Maryland in late December that he cannot say whether massive fraud is occurring in state agencies.
The audits Ferguson referenced have documented significant breakdowns in government operations, such as over $992 million in questionable taxpayer-funded transactions across three state agencies, as reported in legislative audits published in the last 60 days.
While those audits detail deficiencies and the state taxpayer’s financial exposure, they stop short of explaining what fully implemented corrective actions were taken, whether accountability measures were imposed, or whether any findings were referred for potential criminal investigation.
‘A nonpartisan issue’
House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy, R-Carroll and Frederick Counties, said he would support a statewide inspector general’s office and added that his caucus is considering several taxpayer accountability measures as the state faces a looming $1.4 billion fiscal cliff this session.
“When it comes to the taxpayer … it should absolutely be a nonpartisan issue,” Pippy said.
Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate expressed cautious openness.
Sen. Will Smith, D-Montgomery County, said he would “certainly entertain” the idea, calling greater accountability and transparency “the ideal situation.” Del. Caylin Young, D-Baltimore City, said he would vote for such a proposal if it reached the floor, while saying he did not want to get ahead of a broader Democratic consensus.
Republican House Freedom Caucus lawmakers were more forceful.
Del. Kathy Szeliga, R-Baltimore and Harford County, questioned whether an executive-branch performance office, appointed by the governor, can truly safeguard taxpayer dollars.
“Is that the fox watching the hen house?” Szeliga asked. “Of course, we need independent inspectors general looking at these problems.”
Del. Ryan Nawrocki, R-Baltimore and Harford County, Szeliga’s seatmate, said a statewide inspector general would be a “watchdog for the taxpayer,” focused on ensuring government functions “efficiently and effectively.”
Subpoena power
In Baltimore weeks earlier, Cumming argued that what separates an inspector general from auditors, agency officials or even investigative journalists is authority. Unlike auditors, an inspector general typically has apolitical, independent standing and subpoena power — tools that allow investigators to compel testimony and the production of documents.
In a written statement on Thursday, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang explained to Spotlight on Maryland how her state’s laws funnel all corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest or abuse to her office.
“[Our office] conducts proactive, real-time investigations – interviewing witnesses under oath, referring matters for criminal prosecution or administrative action, and driving systemic reforms designed to prevent future wrongdoing,” Lang wrote. “As such, the Inspector General plays a critical role in safeguarding taxpayer dollars, but also in promoting integrity in government programs.”
Lang also said the work of a statewide inspector general “enhances public trust by holding government accountable and improving how state government operates for the people it serves.”
Maryland’s surrounding states of Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia have all established statewide inspector general offices, with Delaware in the process of doing the same.
The Virginia Office of the State Inspector General told Spotlight on Maryland by email on Tuesday that it “applauds any state, municipality, or agency that takes the critical task of detecting fraud, waste and abuse seriously.”
Virginia’s office brought a case last year alleging $1.5 million in embezzlement from the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign and worked with state agencies to close a projected $51 million gap in overtime usage.