Approve First, Ask Questions Later: SBA Targets Planned Parenthood’s PPP Loans

As of May 2024, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) had flagged nearly 38,000 already-forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that it suspected borrowers were ineligible for. The SBA has and will continue to exercise its authority to claw-back funds from borrowers who it believes were ineligible. This is highlighted by its latest target, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), who is now under the gun to respond to thirty-eight different requests for information regarding its affiliates’ PPP loan eligibility. In . . . Read More

Matt Feinberg Comments on SBA’s Sweeping 8(a) Suspensions

The Small Business Administration (SBA) confirmed it suspended more than 1,000 contractors this month from the 8(a) Business Development Program, a cornerstone of federal contracting for many small businesses and Native-owned enterprises. The agency said the action followed firms’ failure to submit required records during a program-wide audit. The suspensions represent about one-quarter of the roughly 4,300 companies participating in the 8(a) program, which provides contracting assistance to small businesses designated as socially and economically disadvantaged, including tribally owned enterprises, . . . Read More

SBA Suspends 1,000 8(a) Firms for Not Submitting Data—Federal News Network Quotes PilieroMazza’s Meghan Leemon and Matt Feinberg

The Small Business Administration suspended more than 1,000 companies in the 8(a) program. SBA made the decision after it deemed those small businesses non-compliant with its financial data request from December.  . . . Lawyers that represent small businesses say SBA issued the suspensions on Wednesday based on the fact that the 8(a) firms either failed to submit their responses on or before the January 19 deadline or submitted incomplete responses. “At least some firms that submitted complete data call . . . Read More

SBA Issues Suspension Notices to 8(a) Firms Following Data Call

On December 5, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a program-wide data call (Data Call) to all 8(a) Business Development Program (8(a) Program) participants seeking three years of financial and contractual records. The Data Call was designed to identify fraud, waste, and abuse in the 8(a) Program. Further to that stated goal, following the response deadline of January 19, 2026, SBA swiftly moved to take adverse action against 8(a) firms it deems non-compliant with the Data Call obligations. 8(a) . . . Read More

SBA Data Call: Deadline Extended Until January 19, 2026

SBA  announced  today, as part of a broader release of FAQs, that the deadline to respond to the December 5, 2025, data call, which we discussed  here , has been extended until January 19, 2026. Over and beyond the welcomed extension, SBA has clarified certain of the data call requests. Of note, SBA confirmed that the “last three (3) closed fiscal years of each respective participant” is required. Takeaways from this are: (1) it is the participant’s, not the government’s, fiscal year, . . . Read More

Inside the SBA’s Full-Scale 8(a) Audit: What Participants Need to Know Now

Click here to view the recorded session. In early December, the SBA issued formal data and document requests to all certified 8(a) Business Development Program participants—marking the first major step in the “immediate and full-scale audit” the agency announced in June 2025. These requests are driven largely by recent online media publications attacking the 8(a) Program with allegations of purported (but as-yet unproven) widespread fraud. The scrutiny on the 8(a) Program is intensifying, and 8(a) companies could face collateral damage during . . . Read More

PilieroMazza’s Matt Feinberg Shares Key Impacts of SBA’s 8(a) Audit on Tribally Owned Contractors with Tribal Business News

Matt Feinberg of PilieroMazza recently spoke with and Brian Edwards of Tribal Business News about the SBA’s 8(a) audit and its impact on tribally owned businesses operating in the federal procurement space. Below is the complete article, which also can be accessed through this link . Don’t miss PilieroMazza’s webinar, “ Inside the SBA’s Full-Scale 8(a) Audit: What Participants Need to Know Now ,” scheduled for December 17 at 2 PM ET. ________________________________________   The Small Business Administration’s sweeping audit of its 8(a) Business Development program has left Native-owned companies scrambling to meet a 30-day deadline that advisers . . . Read More

SBA’s 8(a) Program Audit Starts—PilieroMazza Launches “8(a) Audit Response Task Force” to Help Clients Handle the Holiday Gift No One Asked For

On December 5, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued formal data and document requests (linked here ) to certified 8(a) Business Development Program participants. This follows SBA’s June 2025 announcement that it would implement an “immediate and full-scale audit” of the 8(a) Program. The requests, issued by the SBA Office of General Counsel via email, justified the audit as follows: “Recent reports by journalists and independent investigators have raised questions about widespread misconduct within the 8(a) Businesses [sic] Development Program, . . . Read More

SBA & Other Agencies Mentor-Protégé Programs

Click here to  view  the recorded session. Join NVSBC ’s Marie Myszkier and PilieroMazza GovCon attorneys Cy Alba  and Krissy Crallé for the latest episode in NVSBC’s Virtual Training Series, “SBA & Other Agencies Mentor-Protégé Programs,” where they explore key aspects of mentor-protégé opportunities across federal agencies. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain strategic insights to support your company’s success!