Inspector General Targets Federal Fraud, Protecting Public Funds

Hannibal “Mike” Ware is waging a war against federal fraud, but he says it’s not personal—it’s about safeguarding the community he grew up in.

“You have a native son who sits on top of two very important agencies nationally,” Ware noted. “I’m committed to ensuring that the funds our people deserve go to those people and are not stolen or diverted.” As the inspector general of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and acting inspector general for the Social Security Administration (SSA), Ware oversees billions in federal funds, ensuring these resources reach those for whom they’re intended. “My role is not about punishing my community—it’s about protecting it,” he emphasized in a recent interview with The Source.

Ware’s commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars is built on nearly 35 years in federal oversight. His work at the SBA has led to 1,536 indictments, 1,164 arrests, and 925 convictions related to SBA programs. The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges, with an estimated $200 billion, or 17 percent of SBA pandemic relief funds, potentially lost to fraud. “When people are stealing, they’re stealing from the people in our territory who need those funds,” Ware said.