The Small Business Administration (SBA) is looking into whether affiliates of Planned Parenthood improperly received $88 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the peak of the pandemic, Planned Parenthood affiliates received $88 million in taxpayer funding for on-demand abortion services, and the Biden administration made sure that almost all of it was forgiven, despite objections from the previous Trump administration,” remarked SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
“Even now, the stance remains the same: Planned Parenthood shouldn’t have received any pandemic-related taxpayer relief,” she continued.
This investigation aligns with the week of the March for Life, where numerous pro-life supporters gather in Washington, D.C., advocating for unborn children.
The SBA has reached out to 38 Planned Parenthood affiliates, requesting them to confirm their eligibility for the millions in relief funds, according to a report from the Daily Signal. It was also noted that 34 loans to Planned Parenthood affiliates were forgiven under the PPP program by the Biden administration.
The focus of the SBA’s investigation is on whether these affiliates inaccurately represented their size or affiliation to secure loans.
“As part of our ongoing review, we will not just hold accountable those in the Planned Parenthood program who exploited taxpayers, but will also ensure that wrongdoers repay what they owe,” Loeffler stated.
If affiliates do not submit the necessary documentation to the SBA, they may be considered ineligible for loans and could lose the chance for forgiveness. The SBA added that affiliates providing false information could face serious consequences, including repayment and potential civil or criminal penalties.
The PPP program ran from April 3, 2020, to May 31, 2021, initiated to assist small businesses in retaining employees during the pandemic and mandated shutdowns. Applicants had to self-certify their business size to qualify.
According to the Trump administration, Planned Parenthood affiliates claimed they were independent entities with fewer than 500 employees, fulfilling PPP criteria. However, they argued that none of these affiliates were eligible due to their ties with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which collectively exceeded the employee cap.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that the pro-abortion Biden administration forgave many loans to member organizations without thoroughly reviewing each application.
Congressional Republicans, including Senators Joni Ernst and Bill Cassidy, have previously urged investigations into the loans granted to Planned Parenthood organizations.
