Amidst allegations of electioneering activities, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is facing increased scrutiny from Republican lawmakers on the House and Senate Small Business committees. Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) have expressed frustration over what they perceive as stonewalling from the Biden administration in response to their oversight efforts.
In a joint statement, Williams and Ernst underscored their constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the SBA and criticized the agency for ignoring legitimate requests from both committees. They emphasized their commitment to pursuing answers on behalf of the American people despite the SBA’s lack of cooperation.
The @SBAgov should be supporting American small businesses, not campaigning for Biden on the taxpayer’s dime.
@RepRWilliams and I will continue fighting for transparency: https://t.co/8uGTU8SSDS— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) May 9, 2024
The House committee, led by Williams, escalated the matter by issuing subpoenas to SBA chief of staff Arthur Plews and adviser Tyler Robinson after they failed to attend a scheduled interview and neglected to provide requested documents. The investigation centers around the SBA’s collaboration with the Michigan Department of State on a program aimed at promoting civic engagement and voter registration in Michigan, a state deemed critical for President Joe Biden’s electoral strategy.
Ernst, the ranking member on the Senate panel, has also taken action, sending a letter to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman following the emergence of an undercover video allegedly showing an adviser discussing Guzman’s involvement in Democratic election campaigns.
BREAKING: O’Keefe Media Uncovers who is really running the White House. Undercover cameras catch Special Advisor @SBAgov call former @facebook Board Member @WHCOS @ZientsJeff27574 “the second most powerful person in Washington” where “whatever this guy says, it’s what the… pic.twitter.com/vLeollXEFX
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) April 17, 2024
The letter raises concerns about potential violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities.
Ernst has further called for an investigation into telework abuse within the SBA, citing findings from the Government Accountability Office indicating low office attendance among agency employees. Both lawmakers emphasized the importance of ensuring that the SBA remains focused on its core mission of supporting small businesses, rather than engaging in partisan political activities.
The allegations against the SBA have sparked calls for transparency and accountability from Williams and Ernst, who hope that Administrator Guzman and her agency will cooperate in addressing these concerns and upholding ethical standards.
