{"id":2578615,"date":"2026-03-11T12:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sba-launches-war-on-fraud-investigating-50b-of-waste\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T12:28:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:28:24","slug":"sba-launches-war-on-fraud-investigating-50b-of-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sba-launches-war-on-fraud-investigating-50b-of-waste\/","title":{"rendered":"SBA launches &#8216;War on Fraud&#8217; investigating $50B of waste"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsba-launches-war-on-fraud-investigating-50b-of-waste%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2578615&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Kelly Loeffler announced that the Small Business Administration will work with Vice President JD Vance\u2019s fraud task force to launch a 50-state crackdown on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americans-report-strain-from-increasing-household-debt\/\" title=\"Americans report strain from increasing household debt\">federal benefit fraud<\/a>.The initiative targets a nearly $50 billion programme that has never been audited and is described as rife with waste and fraud, with a state-by-state approach that goes beyond COVID-era programs. The plan is part of a broader push to combat fraud across the federal government, including the creation of a Justice Department Fraud Division led by Colin McDonald. The crackdown is already taking shape in actions such as pausing SBA grants in Minnesota after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/five-takeaways-from-minnesota-fraud-with-governor-tim-walz\/\" title=\"Five takeaways from Minnesota ... with Governor Tim Walz\">major fraud scheme<\/a> and suspending some Medicaid funding there. The effort aligns with federal watchdogs\u2019 warnings about significant fraud losses-estimated by the Government Accountability Office at roughly $233 billion to $521 billion annually. President Trump has framed this as a national \u201cwar on fraud,\u201d emphasizing accountability for taxpayer funds.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">SBA launches new $50 billion &lsquo;war on fraud&rsquo; program<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2525273\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/small-business-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1394\">Small Business Administration<\/a> will collaborate with Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"7658\">JD Vance<\/a>&lsquo;s task force for a 50-state crackdown targeting federal benefit fraud, Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kelly-loeffler\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"848\">Kelly Loeffler<\/a> announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are going to go state-by-state &hellip; We have other programs. This isn&rsquo;t just [the] COVID era that we&rsquo;re looking at, but we are going to make sure that we contribute meaningfully to Vice President [JD] Vance&rsquo;s fraud task force that he is heading up, which is so important to the American people,&rdquo; Loeffler said in an interview with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/11\/us-news\/sba-boss-kelly-loeffler-announces-state-by-state-fraud-crackdown-touts-54-headcount-slash\/\"><em>New York Post<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4486940\/brendan-carr-overseas-call-centers-security-issue-fcc-proposal\/\">Carr says overseas call centers pose &#8216;security issue&#8217; as part of FCC proposal list<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4484138\/national-symphony-director-kennedy-center-trump\/\">National Symphony director joins Kennedy Center exodus following Trump moves<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4481085\/futures-markets-cryptocurrency-agenda-michael-selig-cftc\/\">Futures markets and crypto high on agenda of agency&#8217;s new leader<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Loeffler said the SBA is already investigating an almost-$50-billion program that has never been audited and is &ldquo;rife with waste and fraud.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No one had ever thought to audit the program,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>The push comes as the Trump administration has made combating fraud across the federal government a broader priority.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>During last month&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-of-the-union\/\">State of the Union<\/a> address, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">President Donald Trump<\/a> declared a &ldquo;war on fraud.&rdquo; He tapped Vance to lead the effort.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation, and we are working on it like you wouldn&rsquo;t believe,&rdquo; Trump said in the address.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4438431\/trump-nominee-doj-fraud-enforcement-division\/\">Earlier this year<\/a>, Trump also tapped Colin McDonald to serve as the inaugural head of the Justice Department&rsquo;s Fraud Division, a role informally dubbed the &ldquo;fraud czar.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The administration has already taken action in several states.<\/p>\n<p>In December, Loeffler announced she was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4364350\/sba-loeffler-pause-grants-minnesota-fraud\/\">halting all SBA grants<\/a> to Minnesota after a major fraud scheme involving members of the Somali community was discovered. In February, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4472447\/minnesota-medicaid-funding-pause-fraud\/\">Vance announced<\/a> that the Trump administration was pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota over concerns of fraud in the state.<\/p>\n<p>The SBA crackdown comes as the Trump administration has focused more broadly on mitigating fraud across the federal government.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4475662\/trump-finds-unlikely-democratic-allies-on-decision-to-strike-iran\/\">TRUMP FINDS UNLIKELY DEMOCRATIC ALLIES ON DECISION TO STRIKE IRAN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Federal watchdogs have long warned about widespread fraud in government programs.&nbsp; Earlier this year, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-26-108850\">Government Accountability Office<\/a> estimated that the government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually due to fraud, based on data from fiscal years 2018 through 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[The American people] work so hard, they pay taxes to the federal government, and it&rsquo;s our job to be a good steward of those taxes,&rdquo; Loeffler told the <em>Post<\/em>. &ldquo;We have to make sure that we have accountability for those that came here to abuse them, or those that make a living off abusing taxpayer funds.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SBA kicks off $50B fraud crackdown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2578616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26034673135167.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6909,70882,3976,18658,6053],"class_list":["post-2578615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fraud","tag-government-spending-2","tag-investigation","tag-sba","tag-waste"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26034673135167.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2578615"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2578619,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578615\/revisions\/2578619"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2578616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}