Featured Stories
SBA IG: SBA's Mentor-Protege Program
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report entitled "SBA's Mentor-Protege Program."
Here are excerpts:
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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this verification inspection to assess the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) corrective actions for four recommendations from the September 17, 2019 Office of Inspector General's (OIG) Evaluation of SBA's All Small Mentor-Protege Program (Report 19-17).
The objectives of the report were to determine whether SBA implemented effective controls to ensure 1) it
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report entitled "SBA's Mentor-Protege Program."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this verification inspection to assess the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) corrective actions for four recommendations from the September 17, 2019 Office of Inspector General's (OIG) Evaluation of SBA's All Small Mentor-Protege Program (Report 19-17).
The objectives of the report were to determine whether SBA implemented effective controls to ensure 1) itconducted initial application reviews and annual evaluations in accordance with the All Small Mentor-Protege program regulations and 2) it measured program success.
We initiated this verification inspection to follow up on the four recommendations and determine whether SBA's corrective actions were still operating as intended. We determined that Recommendations 1 and 4 were fully implemented; however, SBA management has not fully implemented Recommendations 2 and 3. We will reopen Recommendation 2 to track management's implementation and will work with the agency to establish a target date for completing corrective actions through the audit follow-up process. We will not reopen Recommendation 3, as management resumed conducting annual evaluations, which we confirmed during our review. Management agreed with reopening Recommendation 2, and the agency's comments are responsive to the recommendation.
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The report is posted at: https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SBA%20OIG%20Report%2026-16%20-%20SBA%27s%20Mentor-Protege%20Program%20%28Updated%20Signature%29.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
SBA IG: Report on the Most Serious Management and Performance Challenges by Office of Inspector General
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report entitled "Report on the Most Serious Management and Performance Challenges by Office of Inspector General."
Here are excerpts:
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Pursuant to the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, the SBA Office of Inspector General has identified the top management and performance challenges facing SBA to meet its mission and deliver services to all entrepreneurs with integrity, efficiency, and measurable results. The Act requires the Inspector General's statement of those challenges to be included
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report entitled "Report on the Most Serious Management and Performance Challenges by Office of Inspector General."
Here are excerpts:
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Pursuant to the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, the SBA Office of Inspector General has identified the top management and performance challenges facing SBA to meet its mission and deliver services to all entrepreneurs with integrity, efficiency, and measurable results. The Act requires the Inspector General's statement of those challenges to be includedin the agency's annual performance and accountability reporting.
Identification of an issue as a top challenge does not necessarily denote significant deficiencies or lack of attention on SBA's part. Many of the challenges are longstanding, inherently difficult, and will likely continue to be challenges in the coming years. Mitigating the risks associated with the challenges will require consistent attention from agency management and ongoing engagement with Congress, the public, and other stakeholders. We continue to collaborate with SBA program officials in identifying and addressing the top challenges facing the agency.
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The report is posted at: https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SBA%20OIG%20Report%2027-01%20-%20Top%20Management%20and%20Performance%20Challenges%20Facing%20the%20SBA%20in%20FY%202027.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
SBA IG: OIG Fiscal Year Congressional Budget Justification
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report entitled "OIG Fiscal Year Congressional Budget Justification."
Here are excerpts:
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Overview
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides auditing, investigative, and other oversight services to SBA in support of its mission to help Americans start, grow, or expand their small businesses and recover after a declared disaster. OIG's Audits Division makes recommendations to SBA leadership to improve the integrity, accountability, and performance
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report entitled "OIG Fiscal Year Congressional Budget Justification."
Here are excerpts:
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Overview
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides auditing, investigative, and other oversight services to SBA in support of its mission to help Americans start, grow, or expand their small businesses and recover after a declared disaster. OIG's Audits Division makes recommendations to SBA leadership to improve the integrity, accountability, and performanceof agency programs and services. OIG's Investigations Division pursues evidence of wrongdoing in SBA programs, holding fraudsters accountable and recovering taxpayer dollars.
Our investigative and audit work is supported by our Technology Solutions Division, Management and Operations Division, and the Office of Counsel.
With a budget of $37 million in fiscal year (FY) 2025, OIG provided a significant return on investment of 10,062 percent to American taxpayers, which equates to over $3.7 billion in monetary accomplishments (see Figure 1). Since FY 2021, the start of the pandemic response, we have secured more than $17.7 billion in monetary accomplishments, including investigative recoveries, fines, forfeitures, and disallowed costs identified through our reviews. Our work is helping SBA prevent fraud and more effectively implement programs now and in future emergencies.
SBA underwent significant expansion during the pandemic, introducing new relief programs and changes to its flagship programs. In response, from March 2020 through September 2025, OIG's Audits Division produced 57 reports and 159 recommendations regarding SBA pandemic assistance programs, identifying $20.3 billion in questioned costs. Since May 2020, OIG investigations have resulted in 1,770 indictments, 1,342 arrests, and 1,168 convictions, as of September 30, 2025.
OIG also has leveraged lessons learned from our pandemic oversight work to inform and strengthen SBA's approach to rolling out new programs and systems. Our oversight has highlighted the importance of robust internal controls, timely risk assessments, and proactive fraud prevention measures. These principles are being integrated into SBA's ongoing and future initiatives.
The FY 2027 Budget will allow OIG to continue to investigate, bring to justice, and seek recoveries of taxpayer funds from those who misused or abused Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds in accordance with the extended statutes of limitations. Our budget request is critical for OIG to maintain capacity for effective oversight of SBA programs and operations, to include multibillion-dollar loan portfolios, that help keep the American economy strong.
While the immediate economic crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, the vulnerabilities it exposed are not. Deterring improper payments, ensuring program eligibility, and strengthening internal controls remain persistent challenges. They are systemic issues that continue to challenge SBA's flagship capital, contracting, counseling, and disaster assistance programs. OIG's work remains focused on how these risks persist and how our office can best support the agency in mitigating them for the future.
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The report is posted at: https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/SBA%20OIG%20-%20FY%202027%20CBJ%20FINAL%202026.04.03.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
SBA IG: Fiscal Year 2025 Risk Assessment of SBA's Charge Card Programs
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-17) entitled "Fiscal Year 2025 Risk Assessment of SBA's Charge Card Programs."
Here are excerpts:
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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluated the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) internal controls over purchase and travel card expenditures for fiscal year (FY) 2025 to assess the risk of illegal, improper, and erroneous charges within SBA's purchase card and travel card programs and to decide if further auditing is appropriate.
We found the overall risk
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-17) entitled "Fiscal Year 2025 Risk Assessment of SBA's Charge Card Programs."
Here are excerpts:
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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluated the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) internal controls over purchase and travel card expenditures for fiscal year (FY) 2025 to assess the risk of illegal, improper, and erroneous charges within SBA's purchase card and travel card programs and to decide if further auditing is appropriate.
We found the overall riskof illegal, improper, or erroneous purchase card charges was low. Controls over the program were generally operating effectively, and we did not identify a need for a further audit of the program. However, we identified opportunities for SBA to strengthen the program.
We were unable to assess the risk of SBA's FY 2025 travel card program because the underlying data was not sufficiently reliable for our risk assessment. SBA managers should work with the General Services Administration and its bank vendor to develop a reporting capability that accurately and consistently records travel card transaction data.
SBA management agreed with all six recommendations and the agency's planned actions satisfy the intent of all six recommendations.
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The report is posted at: https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/SBA%20OIG%20Report%2026-17%20-%20FY%202025%20Risk%20Assessment%20of%20SBA%27s%20Charge%20Card%20Programs.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
SBA IG: Consolidated OIG Findings on Subcontracting Limitation Concerns for Set-Aside Awards
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-19) entitled "Consolidated OIG Findings on Subcontracting Limitation Concerns for Set-Aside Awards."
Here are excerpts:
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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this evaluation report to 1) evaluate a body of oversight work to identify opportunities to strengthen federal-wide compliance with limitations on subcontracting requirements for set-aside awards; and 2) follow up on select recommendations from SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports 22-10 and 23-11
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-19) entitled "Consolidated OIG Findings on Subcontracting Limitation Concerns for Set-Aside Awards."
Here are excerpts:
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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this evaluation report to 1) evaluate a body of oversight work to identify opportunities to strengthen federal-wide compliance with limitations on subcontracting requirements for set-aside awards; and 2) follow up on select recommendations from SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports 22-10 and 23-11to determine whether SBA's corrective actions for establishing pre-award procedures and post-award monitoring for subcontracting compliance are operating as intended.
Our review of oversight reports across the government identified recurring deficiencies in the federal contracting community's ability to interpret the rule's requirements, apply them consistently, and monitor and enforce compliance throughout the life of a contract. We also found that SBA's corrective actions did not effectively strengthen its compliance controls, and that SBA's own internal review identified critical contract terms that were often missing or unenforced. As a result, confusion over roles and responsibilities, compliance gaps, and challenges contracting officers faced in performing key oversight tasks increased the risk that pass-through schemes, to include fraud, would go undetected.
We made four recommendations to clarify regulations to improve monitoring and enforcement, strengthen compliance through training, reinforce use of available tools, and coordinate with the General Services Administration to assign oversight roles and responsibilities.
SBA management agreed with Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 and partially agreed with Recommendation 4. Management's planned corrective actions are sufficient to resolve all recommendations.
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The report is posted at: https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/SBA%20OIG%20Report%2026-19%20-%20Consolidated%20OIG%20Findings%20on%20Subcontracting%20Limitation%20Concerns%20for%20Set-Aside%20Awards.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
NASA Study Refines Projections for Thwaites Glacier
PASADENA, California, Oct. 21 (TNSjou) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Study Refines Projections for Thwaites Glacier
Oct. 20, 2026
While the glacier is a major contributor to global sea level rise, projecting its long-term impacts has proved challenging.
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A new study using a computer model developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, along with the University of California, Irvine, and Dartmouth College, finds Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier could contribute more to sea level rise by the end of the century than some previous
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, Oct. 21 (TNSjou) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Study Refines Projections for Thwaites Glacier
Oct. 20, 2026
While the glacier is a major contributor to global sea level rise, projecting its long-term impacts has proved challenging.
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A new study using a computer model developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, along with the University of California, Irvine, and Dartmouth College, finds Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier could contribute more to sea level rise by the end of the century than some previousestimates. In some model simulations, the glacier's contribution was as much as twice current projections.
While the glacier is a major contributor to global sea level rise, projecting its long-term impacts has proved challenging because of complex processes. The study (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-77976-1), published Oct. 12 in Nature Communications, reduces that uncertainty by homing in on the transitional area where glacial ice is no longer bound to the land and, instead, is afloat.
Existing ice sheet models typically treat this transitional area as a distinct boundary, commonly labeled grounding lines. The researchers' model instead, accounts for these areas as grounding zones -- areas where seawater penetrates several miles beneath glacial grounded ice, lifting the ice during tidal cycles that can generate instabilities. The process introduces warmer seawater to the grounded ice, accelerating its melt and destabilizing the glacier more than a distinct line would allow.
Incorporating grounding zones improved the accuracy of the model's ability to simulate glacial retreat. The model matched historical satellite data dating back to the 1990s four times more closely than models that don't include this factor.
The researchers believe this model could provide more reliable information on glacier dynamics, informing coastal regions most impacted by higher sea levels.
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-study-refines-projections-for-thwaites-glacier/
Ecuador to Improve Legal Defense Services for 2.3 Million People With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Ecuador to Improve Legal Defense Services for 2.3 Million People with IDB Support
October 20, 2026
WASHINGTON -- The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $31.9 million financing package to help Ecuador modernize the country's Public Defender's Office and expand access to legal services for vulnerable communities. The financing includes a $28.7 million loan and a $3.2 million non-reimbursable funding.
The project is expected to benefit approximately
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Ecuador to Improve Legal Defense Services for 2.3 Million People with IDB Support
October 20, 2026
WASHINGTON -- The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $31.9 million financing package to help Ecuador modernize the country's Public Defender's Office and expand access to legal services for vulnerable communities. The financing includes a $28.7 million loan and a $3.2 million non-reimbursable funding.
The project is expected to benefit approximately2.3 million people who rely on free legal defense services, including women experiencing violence, Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, people with disabilities, migrants and refugees.
The operation will improve the availability, quality, and efficiency of public legal defense services across Ecuador, and reduce barriers by expanding services in underserved communities, strengthening outreach to vulnerable groups.
"By strengthening the Public Defender's Office's institutional capacity, this project will improve how legal services are delivered, helping bring quality services closer to the people who need them most," said Ignez M. Tristao, IDB Group Country Representative in Ecuador.
The project will support the Public Defender's Office in expanding itinerant and digital services, improving in-person attention, and deploying new technologies that make legal assistance more accessible and responsive to people's needs. It will also strengthen institutional management and case administration, helping the institution reach more people while delivering services more efficiently. The operation is expected to increase access in highly vulnerable territories, reduce waiting times for users, and significantly expand the use of digital channels.
The project aligns with the IDB Group's Strategic Agreement with Ecuador for 2026-2030 and supports the country's efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, improve access to public services, and promote greater inclusion for vulnerable populations.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit: www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/ecuador-improve-legal-defense-services-23-million-people-idb-support
