U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) expressed concerns with the misuse of federal funds by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Association.
The issues were uncovered with the release of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Inspector General’s recent audit of SCORE. It found systemic issues within the SCORE Association and the SBA’s oversight of the program, including an extensive misuse of federal funds for unallowable and unreasonable expenses without SBA detection.
“The results of this audit are both shocking and troubling. It is completely unacceptable that the SBA failed to identify SCORE’s misuse of federal grants money for excessive staff bonuses, unallowable contracts, and prohibited costs such as alcohol,” Rubio said. “This program is intended to support America’s entrepreneurs who are working tirelessly to start businesses, create jobs, and better their communities. As the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship continues to work toward reauthorizing the Small Business Act, I can assure you that this kind of abuse and waste of taxpayer dollars will not go unchecked.”
The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, which Rubio chairs, will have a hearing on the reauthorization of the SBA’s entrepreneurial development programs this week. Rubio said the committee will dive into the results of this audit report at the hearing.
“We will have the opportunity to question the SBA Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development, the SBA Inspector General, and the CEO of the SCORE Association,” Rubio said. “This hearing will also examine recent OIG embezzlement and whistleblower retaliation investigations surrounding the SCORE program. It is vital that the committee ensures that this program is meeting its intended purpose and serving America’s small businesses.”