The top Republican on the House Committee on Small Business is urging President Donald Trump's new Small Business Administration (SBA) chief to address concerns regarding alleged taxpayer-funded electioneering in swing states and the failure to actively recover fraudulent or misappropriated COVID relief funds.
Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, chair of the House Committee on Small Business, expressed dissatisfaction with how the Biden administration had shifted the focus of the SBA away from its original mission of serving Main Street America. Williams highlighted the committee's challenges in obtaining information on the SBA's activities under a 2021 Biden executive order related to voting access.
In a letter to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, the committee raised issues about the lack of transparency under the Biden administration and questioned the impact of certain rule changes on small-business lending. The letter also emphasized the need to investigate potential fraud in COVID relief programs, citing an estimated $200 billion that may have gone to fraudulent recipients.
Williams emphasized the importance of working with the Trump Administration to restore credibility and transparency to the SBA. The committee aims to ensure that small businesses have a voice in government decisions and to support economic growth on Main Street.
Despite differing views within the committee, with Democrats criticizing the GOP's approach to certain inquiries, Williams remains committed to overseeing the SBA's actions and advocating for accountability in the use of taxpayer funds.
