SBA Brings in PALANTIR for Nationwide Fraud Hunt - You Can Run But You

🔍 SBA Brings in PALANTIR for Nationwide Fraud Hunt - You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Posted: January 14, 2026 – 11:55 PM | SURVEILLANCE STATE

Remember that $200 billion in "potentially fraudulent" COVID loans? The SBA is done playing nice. Days after suspending 7,000 Minnesota borrowers, the agency just signed a contract with Palantir Technologies - the surveillance company that built the data-mining systems for the CIA, NSA, and ICE.

        The SBA's New Hunting Dog:

        Palantir's software can cross-reference banking data, tax records, corporate filings, social media, and property records in real-time. If you filed for a PPP loan while posting yacht photos on Instagram - they're going to find you.

This isn't some government bureaucrat squinting at spreadsheets anymore. Palantir built their reputation helping intelligence agencies track terrorists. Now they're pointed at PPP fraudsters. Sleep tight, Florida real estate "investors."

Why This Is Different

The SBA previously relied on its inspector general's office - underfunded, understaffed, and overwhelmed. They estimated $136 billion in EIDL fraud and $64 billion in PPP fraud. That's $200 billion gone. But they could barely investigate a fraction of the cases.

Now? Palantir's algorithms can process millions of loan applications simultaneously, flagging discrepancies that would take human investigators decades to find. The company brags about identifying patterns "invisible to the naked eye."

Administrator Kelly Loeffler made it clear: "We will work with law enforcement to hold fraudsters accountable and put the criminals who have cheated American taxpayers behind bars."

The Numbers That Should Scare You

7,900 loans suspended in Minnesota alone - $400 million
10-year statute of limitations extended by Congress specifically for PPP/EIDL fraud
Criminal referrals for "every case where appropriate"
Investigations expanding nationwide with "zero tolerance policy"

The best part? Harold Kaeding of Eden Prairie thought he got away clean when he fled to Colombia with $1.6 million in stolen PPP and EIDL funds. Colombian authorities extradited him. He's now serving 87 months in federal prison.

Think about that the next time you consider crossing an international border to avoid consequences. The SBA is literally working with foreign governments now.

Sources: FedScoop, Star Tribune