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Hannibal "Mike" Ware was the inspector general of the United States Small Business Administration. Ware was sworn into office on May 24, 2018 and served until January 24, 2025.
In 2009, Gov. John de Jongh Jr. used $490,000 of government funds to build a perimeter fence, expand his driveway, build a guard house, and installed a security camera system. Ware found that de Jongh had used money designated for repairs to public roads to make the improvements to his private home, which was improper and circumvented the legislature.Lewin, Aldeth (January 25, 2010). " Inspector General's Report: Use of V.I. Funds for Upgrades to deJongh's Home Improper". McClatchy-Tribune Business News. The attorney general charged DeJongh with criminal embezzlement of public funds and neglecting to pay over public monies.Blackburn, Joy (August 19, 2015). " DeJongh, Former PFA Director Charged in Mafolie-gate". Tribune Content Agency.
Ware was later promoted to Eastern Regional Manager. While he was Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Management, Ware managed the office's operating budget and logistics.
Ware served as the Deputy Inspector General of the Small Business Administration from April 2016 to January 2017. When Inspector General Peggy E. Gustafson left the position to become to Inspector General of the Department of Commerce,Zhou, Li (February 6, 2017). " Facebook, Twitter, Google File Brief Against Immigration Order". Politico. Ware served as the Acting Inspector General from January 9, 2017, until President Donald Trump appointed him, the Senate confirmed him, and he was sworn into office on May 24, 2018."
In 2017, Ware helped uncover several contractors that had received federal contracts intended for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses under false pretenses. One company attempted to qualify by hiring a disabled veteran to officially serve in that role as a figurehead while not actually controlling the company at all." Western New York Contractors and Two Owners to Pay More Than $3 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations". Geyer Gorey LLP. October 3, 2017.
In May 2020, Ware criticized the Small Business Administration's rules for the Paycheck Protection Program, saying that the Small Business Administration had set stricter rules than Congress wrote into the law created the program, which is causing an "unintended burden" on businesses.Warmbrody, Zachary (May 8, 2020). " Watchdog Warns SBA That Loan Limits Will Hurt Small Business Borrowers". Politico. Ware also said that the Small Business Administration's failure to provide guidance to financial institutions to prioritize businesses in underserved and rural markets, resulting in fewer loans to their businesses than the law intended." House Democrats Ask 5 Companies to Return Coronavirus Aid". Associated Press. WNCT-TV. May 8, 2018.
In November 2024, Ware was elected chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), effective Jan. 1, 2025; he succeeded Mark Greenblatt.
On January 24, 2025 President Donald Trump attempted to dismiss Mr. Ware along with several other inspectors general. Ware responded that he had not been legally dismissed, as the law required a notification to Congress 30 days in advance. On February 12, he and seven other inspectors general who were fired by Trump filed a lawsuit against the administration, asking that their dismissals be ruled illegal and that they be reinstated.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Hannibal "Mike" Ware". U.S. Small Business Administration. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019.
He is responsible for independent oversight of SBA’s programs and operations, which normally encompass more than $100 billion in guaranteed loans and nearly $100 billion in Federal contracting dollars. As a result of SBA’s role in the nation’s pandemic response, he is providing oversight of over a trillion dollars of lending authority aimed at stabilizing the nation’s economy and providing vital capital to the nation’s small businesses. He also is a statutory member of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s (CIGIE) Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), serving alongside his Inspector General colleagues to provide a whole of Government response to the pandemic oversight effort. Within the PRAC, Inspector General Ware chairs the Subcommittee on Audits. In addition, Inspector General Ware serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee for CIGIE and is a member of CIGIE’s Executive Council.
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