Small Business Administration (SBA)

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a U.S. government agency established to support small businesses. It provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise, and also offers disaster assistance in the form of loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. The SBA is newsworthy due to recent reports highlighting misuse of funds distributed through its programs. Specifically, instances of fraud, such as the case of a former Missouri house speaker misusing COVID-19 relief funds, have brought scrutiny to the SBA's oversight and accountability measures. Additionally, the SBA plays a role in disaster recovery, as evidenced by executive orders aimed at expediting rebuilding efforts after events like the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. These events underscore the SBA's ongoing relevance in both economic development and disaster response, while also highlighting the need for improved safeguards against fraud and abuse within its programs.