SBA newsroom, SBA Inspector General and USDA Inspector General Sign Data Sharing Agreement to Strengthen Fraud Detection and Enforcement Coordination (2026-02-24)

Summary

This SBA Office of Inspector General news release, published February 24, 2026, from Los Angeles, announces a data sharing agreement between SBA Inspector General William W. Kirk and USDA Inspector General John Walk. The release states that the agreement is meant to help detect, refer and support investigations into fraud affecting federal programs. It followed a meeting with the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. Kirk is quoted saying the agreement will help the offices share information and identify fraud indicators earlier, and Walk is quoted on using data, analytics and technology to find potential leads for investigations.

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OIG news release

SBA Inspector General and USDA Inspector General Sign Data Sharing Agreement to Strengthen Fraud Detection and Enforcement Coordination

Published on February 24, 2026 by Office of Inspector General

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Inspector General William W. Kirk of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) and Inspector General John Walk of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA OIG) announced the execution of a data sharing agreement to strengthen coordination and accelerate efforts to detect, refer, and support investigations into fraud impacting federal programs.

The agreement follows a meeting in Los Angeles with the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, focused on strengthening interagency collaboration and aligning oversight and law enforcement efforts to protect taxpayer dollars.

This partnership advances a shared commitment to improving information flow, identifying risk faster, and supporting investigative and prosecutorial work through more timely access to relevant data and analytics.

“Fraud schemes move quickly, and our oversight approach has to move faster,” said Inspector General Kirk. “This agreement strengthens our ability to share information, identify fraud indicators earlier, and support the law enforcement partners who are holding bad actors accountable. We are committed to protecting the integrity of SBA programs and safeguarding taxpayer funds.”

“Fraud in Government programs calls for enhanced approaches built on partnerships and modern law enforcement techniques,” said Inspector General Walk. “This agreement will enhance our ability to leverage data, analytics, and technology to support USDA OIG’s efforts to target resources and to identify potential leads for investigations and address programmatic and operational weaknesses. Through this partnership, we can better share information to better prevent fraud and hold wrongdoers accountable, in order to protect hard working taxpayers.”

SBA OIG and USDA OIG will continue to prioritize coordinated oversight efforts with inspectors general, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners, including through data driven analytics and information sharing initiatives designed to prevent, detect, and deter fraud.

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Media Contact SBA-OIG: Andre N. Harris Congressional & Public Affairs Officer U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General Phone: (202) 893-5308 Email: DeAundre.Harris@sba.gov

Media Contact USDA-OIG: Carl (CJ) Hobbs Congressional & Media Relations U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General Phone: (202) 720-9110 Email: Carl.Hobbs@oig.usda.gov

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