Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz referred to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) allegations made by the dismissed head of the Family Socioeconomic Development Administration (Adsef), Blanca Medina Díaz. She has said publicly that she was improperly pressured by Family Secretary Suzanne Roig to award a roughly $38 million contract to NOLA Education LLC to implement the Star Academy program in 25 public schools.
In letters sent Wednesday, Rivera Schatz cited a May 20, 2026 letter in which Medina Díaz stated that Adsef did not take part in evaluating, selecting or awarding the project; she says the entire process was handled by the Secretariat. He added that an official trip to Louisiana in December 2025 was reportedly paid with TANF funds, and that the company was selected in January 2026, before the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) warned on March 4, 2026 that some components might not meet federal requirements.
The Family Department canceled the award on May 19, 2026. Medina Díaz was also required to sign a contract of about $300,000 for services proposed by a person who, she alleges, is a Secretariat contractor. Roig told El Nuevo Día she welcomes the probe and answered 'no' when asked if the referrals worry her, saying she will cooperate.
Rivera Schatz noted Medina Díaz attributes her dismissal to refusing to sign the contracts, and said the allegations, if true, could constitute crimes against public office or the treasury.