ARTICLE · 15 JULY 2025

SBA Announces Full-Scale Audit Of 8(a) Program

Wiley Rein

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The U.S. Small Business Administration announced a "full-scale" audit of the 8(a) program after a former United States Agency for International Development contracting officer and three 8(a) business owners pleaded guilty to bribery in the award of over $550 million in contracts.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

WHAT: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a "full-scale" audit of the 8(a) program after a former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contracting officer and three 8(a) business owners pleaded guilty to bribery in the award of over $550 million in contracts. The 8(a) program provides socially and economically disadvantaged businesses with growth opportunities and access to government contracts. SBA will work with agencies that have awarded 8(a) contracts since 2010 to review those awards, initially focusing on high-dollar and limited-competition contracts. SBA will initiate recovery of misused funds and refer findings of waste, fraud, abuse, and other misconduct to SBA's Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement.

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