😲 “Who Took My Stimmy?” Over $200 Billion Vanishes from U.S. COVID Relief Pots 🏦💰
TL;DR;
Hey fam, guess what? Over $200 billion in COVID relief funds seem to have taken an unscheduled vacation, according to a federal watchdog. It seems the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) might have been a bit too eager to send the funds out and now can’t find a chunk of it.
🙋♂️So, remember those juicy stimulus checks and the government’s Coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) schemes? Yeah, those that added up to a whopping $1.2 trillion. Well, hold on to your socks because at least 17% of that may have ended up in the wrong hands. The question we should all be asking ourselves is, “Who let the dogs out… with our money?”
🕵️♂️Now, the SBA is saying “Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold your horses, the real number is $36 billion, not $200 billion.” They even pointed fingers at 2020, under the Trump administration, where over 86% of that likely fraud occurred. I guess we can call it a “bad hair year.” But, let’s think about it for a sec, isn’t $36 billion still a lot of moolah? 🤔💸
🔍The Inspector General, on the other hand, has got some big numbers of his own. They’re suggesting that more than $136 billion went walkabout under the EIDL program, with the PPP program missing a “modest” $64 billion. I mean, that’s a lot of people saying, “Thanks for the cash. Don’t know what you’re talking about!” Isn’t it?
🚔Let’s not forget, Uncle Sam is fighting back, launching a COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, and even appointing federal prosecutor Kevin Chambers to investigate. And not just on these programs. Last year, fraudsters reportedly nabbed $45.6 billion from the unemployment insurance program, using some dead people’s Social Security numbers. Not cool, guys! Not cool!👻💰
🥪Also, back in September, charges flew against a bunch of folks who were apparently caught swiping $250 million from a government program meant to feed hungry kids during the pandemic. That’s just low. But hey, on the bright side, we’re talking about it, right? 💔🍔
🤷♂️And who could forget that separate watchdog report earlier this year that mentioned the U.S. government had given about $5.4 billion in COVID-19 aid to people with “questionable” Social Security numbers. I mean, really? Where’s Maury Povich when you need him for a good lie detector test?
🚨Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide any financial or legal advice.
So, what do you think? Was it a case of acting fast and breaking things, or just good ol’ inefficiency? Either way, it’s left us all scratching our heads and asking the biggest question of them all: Where’s our money, Lebowski? 💵🔍🤷♀️
