House Republicans Accuse Biden Administration of Using SBA for 'Campaign Activities'

Representative Beth Van Duyne alleges that the Biden administration is leveraging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to support President Biden's re-election campaign, raising concerns over the use of taxpayer funds for political purposes.

Republican members of the House Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee, led by Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), have accused the Biden administration of misusing taxpayer funds to bolster President Biden's re-election campaign efforts. The allegations stem from an announcement in March of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Michigan Department of State.

According to the MOU, the SBA and Michigan Department of State would collaborate to "promote civic engagement and voter registration in Michigan" through 2036. This follows an executive order issued by President Biden in 2021 instructing federal agencies to "promote voter registration and voter participation."

Representative Van Duyne expressed concern that the SBA is being used as a tool for political mobilization rather than fulfilling its intended purpose of supporting small businesses. She referenced an investigation by the House Small Business Committee, which found that 22 out of 25 of the SBA's outreach events in Michigan had occurred in counties with the highest population of Democratic National Committee target demographics.

"This is obviously a campaign attempt to get out Biden voters," Van Duyne stated. "They're using taxpayer dollars to do it, which is in direct violation to the Hatch Act. You don't use taxpayer funds — official funds — to pay for campaign activities."

The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activities while on duty or using their official authority for political purposes.

Van Duyne argued that the SBA should prioritize assisting small businesses facing economic challenges, such as inflation and labor shortages, rather than engaging in voter registration efforts.

Fox News correspondent Bryan Llenas emphasized the significance of Michigan in Biden's re-election campaign, noting that the "Blue Wall" states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania represent the clearest path for Biden's re-election.

While Michigan voters are nearly evenly split between those who are financially stable and those who are struggling, the latter group overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

Van Duyne expressed concern that the SBA's actions may extend to other states and agencies following the president's executive order.

The House Small Business Committee has sent a letter to SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman seeking clarification on the MOU with Michigan, but no response has been received. Fox News has attempted to contact the White House for comment without success.