SBA Inspector General William W. Kirk Appointed Chairman of Pandemic Response Accountability Committee

Summary

This is an OIG news release, published on February 17, 2026, stating that the SBA Office of Inspector General announced that Inspector General William W. Kirk has been appointed Chairman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency's Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), effective March 1, 2026. It states that the PRAC was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide data driven oversight of more than $2 trillion in federal pandemic relief spending. Inspector General Kirk succeeds outgoing PRAC Chairman Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General of the Federal Reserve Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Kirk will serve as PRAC Chairman in addition to the role of Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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OIG news release

SBA Inspector General William W. Kirk Appointed Chairman of CIGIE’s Pandemic Response Accountability Committee

Published on February 17, 2026 by Office of Inspector General

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) today announced that Inspector General William W. Kirk has been appointed Chairman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), effective March 1, 2026.

The PRAC was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide independent, data driven oversight of more than $2 trillion in federal pandemic relief spending and to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse across federal programs.

SBA OIG has played a central role in pandemic oversight, particularly of the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, and Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Since the onset of pandemic relief programs, SBA OIG has:

- Conducted and issued audits and evaluations identifying systemic vulnerabilities in SBA pandemic programs
- Supported criminal investigations related to pandemic fraud
- Contributed to significant recoveries, seizures, and restitution through investigative and prosecutorial partnerships
- Provided Congress and the public with timely, independent reporting on SBA program risks and corrective actions

Through close collaboration with the PRAC, federal law enforcement partners, and the broader Inspector General community, SBA OIG has advanced data analytics, risk modeling, and interagency coordination to safeguard taxpayer funds and strengthen program integrity.

“Serving as Chairman of the PRAC is both an honor and a responsibility,” said Inspector General William Kirk. “The SBA Office of Inspector General has seen firsthand the scale, complexity, and consequences of pandemic relief fraud. As PRAC Chairman, I am committed to ensuring rigorous oversight, transparency, and accountability across the federal government so that relief funds are protected and the public’s trust is upheld."

Inspector General Kirk succeeds outgoing PRAC Chairman Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General of the Federal Reserve Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Inspector General Kirk will serve as PRAC Chairman in addition to his role as Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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Media Contact:

Andre N. Harris Congressional & Public Affairs Officer U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General

Email: DeAundre.Harris@sba.gov | Phone: (202) 893-5308

Related programs: COVID EIDL, Pandemic Oversight, PPP, RRF, Shuttered Venues

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