Senate summons La Fortaleza chief of staff to extensive committee of the whole.

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By THE STAR STAFF

In what could turn out to be the most extensive oversight events of the current governing administration, the Puerto Rico Senate has summoned La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco J. Domenech Fernández, who is also executive director of the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (AAFAF by its initials in Spanish), to appear before a committee of the whole next Tuesday, March 24.

The hearing at the Salón Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras will focus on a broad examination of 10 core areas of public administration, as outlined in the Legislature’s formal notice.

The Legislature intends to review the progress made in implementing the central government’s Fiscal Plan, widely regarded as Puerto Rico’s chief instrument of financial planning. Lawmakers will also look into the fiscal condition of public corporations, the status of government reform initiatives, and the ongoing reorganization of the executive branch. Compliance with statutory obligations in public administration and programmatic legislation is also on the agenda, reflecting lawmakers’ interest in understanding how closely the administration has adhered to various legal mandates.

In addition to those matters, lawmakers will discuss the government’s tax reform efforts and their implications for fiscal stability. The functioning of Puerto Rico’s permitting system is expected to receive attention, particularly regarding attempts to streamline bureaucratic processes and accelerate administrative decision-making. Contracting and procurement practices across the central government and its public corporations will be examined, alongside questions about public-sector appointments, promotions and retirements. Senators have also indicated that the management and disbursement of federal reconstruction funds will be a key subject of inquiry, given the unprecedented volume of resources involved and ongoing public concern about their utilization. The Legislature plans to assess compliance with revenue, expenditure, and projection targets established in the Fiscal Plan as well as the results of Executive Order OE‑2025‑008, which governs personnel and administrative actions across the executive branch. The Senate’s notice states that lawmakers may raise any additional issues they deem relevant during the session.

The decision to bring Domenech before a committee of the whole comes at a time of heightened friction between the Legislature and the Office of the Governor. One of the pivotal sources of tension involves accusations by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who has alleged that Domenech instructed agency heads not to provide the Senate with documents related to legal work performed by attorney Antonio Sagardía de Jesús. This dispute has prompted the Senate to press forward with compelling Domenech’s appearance and has fueled a broader institutional confrontation over legislative access to information (see related story on page 4). Rivera Schatz has insisted that the executive branch is mistaken in asserting that Senate rules require a formal vote for such requests and has invoked Supreme Court precedent to justify acting independently of plenary procedures. 

The conflict is further inflamed by an ongoing power struggle within the New Progressive Party (NPP). Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and Rivera Schatz have clashed publicly over control of government contracting authority. Domenech, who plays a central role in overseeing contracts as chief of staff and AAFAF director, has become a focal point of this broader dispute. Reports indicate that questions about his influence over procurement processes and administrative decisions have intensified legislative scrutiny. 

The friction between Domenech and lawmakers also extends to what some senators describe as a persistent communication breakdown. NPP Sen. Juan Oscar Morales has stated that the Senate experiences “zero communication” with Domenech, expressing frustration over recent controversies and personnel decisions emanating from La Fortaleza. Those developments have contributed to the momentum behind the hearing, as legislators seek to assert authority and demand greater transparency. 

The March 24 committee of the whole is poised to be a defining moment in the evolving relationship between the legislative and executive branches. With tensions running high and longstanding disagreements over transparency, contracting and administrative oversight, the hearing will scrutinize not only fiscal planning, reconstruction funds and structural reforms but also the underlying political struggles shaping Puerto Rico’s governance. As the island continues navigating federal oversight, fiscal restructuring and complex administrative reforms, the session’s outcomes may have lasting implications for both public accountability and the balance of power in San Juan.