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The Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched an investigation into whether Planned Parenthood affiliates unlawfully acquired $88 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler expressed concerns to The Daily Signal, stating, “During the height of the pandemic, Planned Parenthood affiliates received $88 million in taxpayer funds to support their abortion efforts, with nearly every dollar being forgiven under the Biden administration, despite initial objections from the Trump administration.”
Loeffler further emphasized, “The Trump SBA’s stance remains unchanged: Planned Parenthood Federation of America was not entitled to any pandemic-related financial relief from taxpayers.”
This review coincides with the March for Life event, where thousands of pro-life supporters gather in Washington, DC, to champion the rights of the unborn.
As reported by Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell of The Daily Signal, the SBA has reached out to 38 Planned Parenthood affiliates, requesting evidence of their eligibility for the significant COVID-era funds they received. The report also highlights that the Biden administration forgave 34 loans obtained by these affiliates under the PPP program.
SBA is specifically looking to see if the affiliates misrepresented their size or the nature of their affiliation with the national organization to illegally qualify for the loans, according to the report.
“As part of the review underway, not only will we expose the Planned Parenthood affiliates who took advantage of the American people — we will take every necessary step to force every bad actor to pay them back,” Loeffler said.
Affiliates that fail to provide documentation to SBA may be found ineligible for the loan and forgiveness of the loan, the report continues. SBA said affiliates that are found to have provided wrong or false information will face “severe penalties, including repayment of the loan, ineligibility for loan forgiveness, and possible referral for civil or criminal penalties.”
PPP ran during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, from April 3, 2020, to May 31, 2021. The loans were designed to help small businesses pay their employees during pandemic disruptions and government-enforced shutdowns. PPP applicants had to self-certify the size of their businesses to the SBA.
According to the Trump administration, Planned Parenthood affiliates claimed to be independent, qualified entities with fewer than 500 employees, in line with PPP requirements. However, the Trump administration contends none of those affiliates were actually eligible because of their affiliation with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which altogether surpasses the 500-worker limit.
The pro-abortion Biden administration also forgave many PPP loans to the affiliations without “engaging in a meaningful review of their respective applications,” the report states.
Congressional Republicans have previously asked for investigations into the PPP loans doled out to Planned Parenthood affiliates, including Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on X @thekat_hamilton.
