{"id":2455,"date":"2026-08-19T19:41:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T19:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455"},"modified":"2026-08-19T19:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T19:41:59","slug":"exclusive-a-listers-got-34-million-in-covid-relief-the-trump-admin-is-trying-to-get-it-back-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455","title":{"rendered":"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<p><span>The Trump administration is moving to claw back tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief that went to celebrities, music artists, and entertainment industry elites.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2454\">Illegal Immigrant Fatally Stabbed Mother And Left Her Lifeless Body In Park, Police Say<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>The Small Business Administration announced Tuesday that it has referred $34 million in outstanding Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) debt to the Treasury Department, marking the first time the federal government has referred unresolved debt from the program to the Treasury for collection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The move is part of a broader effort by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler to recover pandemic-era funds that the agency says were improperly awarded or remain outstanding. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cUnder the Biden Administration, the SVOG program became one of the biggest cash-grabs of the pandemic,\u201d Loeffler said in a statement first obtained by The Daily Wire. \u201cFor the last year, the Trump SBA has been working to recoup funds meant for struggling small arts and entertainment businesses that ended up lining the pockets of celebrities, music artists, and elite talent agents.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cToday\u2019s $34 million referral to the Treasury Department is only the first one,\u201d she added, saying the agency will continue using \u201cevery lawful tool to claw back unmerited SVOG payments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Treasury referral comes after recipients failed to resolve outstanding repayment obligations through the SBA\u2019s debt-resolution process. The $34 million figure includes principal, applicable administrative costs, and accrued interest. The Biden administration never referred the outstanding SVOG debts to the Treasury for collection, according to the SBA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The SVOG program was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide emergency assistance to live venue operators, promoters, theatrical producers, performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, and talent representatives whose businesses were affected by pandemic-related shutdowns and revenue losses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Congress authorized $16.25 billion for the program, with individual applicants eligible for grants of up to $10 million.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But the program ultimately became a source of millions of dollars in federal aid for some of the entertainment industry\u2019s wealthiest names. <\/span><span>Business Insider<\/span><span> previously reported that musicians including Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Marshmello, and Steve Aoki received millions of dollars through the program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Lil Wayne\u2019s touring company received an $8.9 million grant. Records reviewed by Business Insider showed that more than $1.3 million was spent on private-jet flights and more than $460,000 on clothing and accessories, while nearly $88,000 was charged to taxpayers for a concert the rapper did not ultimately perform.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Chris Brown\u2019s touring company received $10 million, with approximately $5.1 million going to Brown personally. His company also charged nearly $80,000 to the grant for his birthday party.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Marshmello received $9.9 million, while Steve Aoki\u2019s touring company received millions more. Business Insider reported that Aoki\u2019s company used approximately $1.9 million of its grant for officer pay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2453\">Trump\u2019s Deportation Map Expands To Country With Ironic American History<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>The program\u2019s rules allowed recipients to spend grant money on a broad range of authorized business expenses, including payroll and owner compensation. That meant wealthy artists could qualify through corporate entities connected to their touring operations even if they personally possessed substantial assets, provided their businesses met the program\u2019s eligibility requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The grants were intended to help keep struggling businesses in the live entertainment industry afloat during the pandemic, when venues and performances were shut down across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Instead, critics have pointed to instances in which large sums flowed to already wealthy entertainers and their business managers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The SBA now says it is attempting to recover money it determined was improperly awarded or remains subject to repayment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The agency began issuing rescission and demand letters to SVOG recipients in June 2025. Those recipients were given opportunities to appeal the agency\u2019s determinations or enter repayment agreements before the SBA pursued additional collection measures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The agency says it has recovered more than $50 million through voluntary and involuntary payments since the Trump administration began its recovery effort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The SBA said additional referrals could follow as it continues reviewing outstanding awards and resolving recipients\u2019 repayment obligations. The SBA\u2019s Office of Inspector General identified approximately $544 million in potentially improper SVOG payments. It also found that 2,590 awards worth approximately $4.8 billion remained open more than a year after they were supposed to have been closed out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A separate 2025 inspector general report found that 1,080 SVOG grants remained open as of May 2025, meaning the agency had not yet fully accounted for how the funds were used. Roughly two-thirds of those recipients had either failed to submit required audits or failed to respond to questions about their use of the funds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The program\u2019s problems began almost immediately after Congress authorized the grants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In 2021, amid pressure from lawmakers to get money out to struggling entertainment businesses as quickly as possible, the Biden administration directed SBA personnel to \u201cpresume applicant assertions to be true\u201d and expedited the review of applications under $500,000. As many as two-thirds of approved applicants were reportedly on the Treasury Department\u2019s Do Not Pay List. The SBA says its current effort is intended to restore accountability and ensure that pandemic-relief programs do not become a permanent loss for taxpayers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2451\">EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Trump administration is moving to claw back tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief that went to celebrities, music artists, and entertainment industry elites.The Small Business Administration announced Tuesday that it has referred $34 million in outstanding Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) debt to the Treasury Department, marking the first time the federal government has referred unresolved debt from the program to the Treasury for collection.The move is part of a broader effort by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler to recover pandemic-era funds that the agency says were improperly awarded or remain outstanding. \u201cUnder the Biden Administration, the SVOG program became one of the biggest cash-grabs of the pandemic,\u201d Loeffler said in a statement first obtained by The Daily Wire. \u201cFor the last year, the Trump SBA has been working to recoup funds meant for struggling small arts and entertainment businesses that ended up lining the pockets of celebrities, music artists, and elite talent agents.\u201d\u201cToday\u2019s $34 million referral to the Treasury Department is only the first one,\u201d she added, saying the agency will continue using \u201cevery lawful tool to claw back unmerited SVOG payments.\u201dThe Treasury referral comes after recipients failed to resolve outstanding repayment obligations through the SBA\u2019s debt-resolution process. The $34 million figure includes principal, applicable administrative costs, and accrued interest. The Biden administration never referred the outstanding SVOG debts to the Treasury for collection, according to the SBA.The SVOG program was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide emergency assistance to live venue operators, promoters, theatrical producers, performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, and talent representatives whose businesses were affected by pandemic-related shutdowns and revenue losses.Congress authorized $16.25 billion for the program, with individual applicants eligible for grants of up to $10 million.\u00a0But the program ultimately became a source of millions of dollars in federal aid for some of the entertainment industry\u2019s wealthiest names. Business Insider previously reported that musicians including Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Marshmello, and Steve Aoki received millions of dollars through the program.Lil Wayne\u2019s touring company received an $8.9 million grant. Records reviewed by Business Insider showed that more than $1.3 million was spent on private-jet flights and more than $460,000 on clothing and accessories, while nearly $88,000 was charged to taxpayers for a concert the rapper did not ultimately perform.Chris Brown\u2019s touring company received $10 million, with approximately $5.1 million going to Brown personally. His company also charged nearly $80,000 to the grant for his birthday party.Marshmello received $9.9 million, while Steve Aoki\u2019s touring company received millions more. Business Insider reported that Aoki\u2019s company used approximately $1.9 million of its grant for officer pay.The program\u2019s rules allowed recipients to spend grant money on a broad range of authorized business expenses, including payroll and owner compensation. That meant wealthy artists could qualify through corporate entities connected to their touring operations even if they personally possessed substantial assets, provided their businesses met the program\u2019s eligibility requirements.The grants were intended to help keep struggling businesses in the live entertainment industry afloat during the pandemic, when venues and performances were shut down across the country.Instead, critics have pointed to instances in which large sums flowed to already wealthy entertainers and their business managers.The SBA now says it is attempting to recover money it determined was improperly awarded or remains subject to repayment.The agency began issuing rescission and demand letters to SVOG recipients in June 2025. Those recipients were given opportunities to appeal the agency\u2019s determinations or enter repayment agreements before the SBA pursued additional collection measures.The agency says it has recovered more than $50 million through voluntary and involuntary payments since the Trump administration began its recovery effort.The SBA said additional referrals could follow as it continues reviewing outstanding awards and resolving recipients\u2019 repayment obligations. The SBA\u2019s Office of Inspector General identified approximately $544 million in potentially improper SVOG payments. It also found that 2,590 awards worth approximately $4.8 billion remained open more than a year after they were supposed to have been closed out.A separate 2025 inspector general report found that 1,080 SVOG grants remained open as of May 2025, meaning the agency had not yet fully accounted for how the funds were used. Roughly two-thirds of those recipients had either failed to submit required audits or failed to respond to questions about their use of the funds.The program\u2019s problems began almost immediately after Congress authorized the grants.In 2021, amid pressure from lawmakers to get money out to struggling entertainment businesses as quickly as possible, the Biden administration directed SBA personnel to \u201cpresume applicant assertions to be true\u201d and expedited the review of applications under $500,000. As many as two-thirds of approved applicants were reportedly on the Treasury Department\u2019s Do Not Pay List. The SBA says its current effort is intended to restore accountability and ensure that pandemic-relief programs do not become a permanent loss for taxpayers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2450,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back - Blue Route Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back - Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Trump administration is moving to claw back tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief that went to celebrities, music artists, and entertainment industry elites.The Small Business Administration announced Tuesday that it has referred $34 million in outstanding Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) debt to the Treasury Department, marking the first time the federal government has referred unresolved debt from the program to the Treasury for collection.The move is part of a broader effort by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler to recover pandemic-era funds that the agency says were improperly awarded or remain outstanding. \u201cUnder the Biden Administration, the SVOG program became one of the biggest cash-grabs of the pandemic,\u201d Loeffler said in a statement first obtained by The Daily Wire. \u201cFor the last year, the Trump SBA has been working to recoup funds meant for struggling small arts and entertainment businesses that ended up lining the pockets of celebrities, music artists, and elite talent agents.\u201d\u201cToday\u2019s $34 million referral to the Treasury Department is only the first one,\u201d she added, saying the agency will continue using \u201cevery lawful tool to claw back unmerited SVOG payments.\u201dThe Treasury referral comes after recipients failed to resolve outstanding repayment obligations through the SBA\u2019s debt-resolution process. The $34 million figure includes principal, applicable administrative costs, and accrued interest. The Biden administration never referred the outstanding SVOG debts to the Treasury for collection, according to the SBA.The SVOG program was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide emergency assistance to live venue operators, promoters, theatrical producers, performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, and talent representatives whose businesses were affected by pandemic-related shutdowns and revenue losses.Congress authorized $16.25 billion for the program, with individual applicants eligible for grants of up to $10 million.\u00a0But the program ultimately became a source of millions of dollars in federal aid for some of the entertainment industry\u2019s wealthiest names. Business Insider previously reported that musicians including Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Marshmello, and Steve Aoki received millions of dollars through the program.Lil Wayne\u2019s touring company received an $8.9 million grant. Records reviewed by Business Insider showed that more than $1.3 million was spent on private-jet flights and more than $460,000 on clothing and accessories, while nearly $88,000 was charged to taxpayers for a concert the rapper did not ultimately perform.Chris Brown\u2019s touring company received $10 million, with approximately $5.1 million going to Brown personally. His company also charged nearly $80,000 to the grant for his birthday party.Marshmello received $9.9 million, while Steve Aoki\u2019s touring company received millions more. Business Insider reported that Aoki\u2019s company used approximately $1.9 million of its grant for officer pay.The program\u2019s rules allowed recipients to spend grant money on a broad range of authorized business expenses, including payroll and owner compensation. That meant wealthy artists could qualify through corporate entities connected to their touring operations even if they personally possessed substantial assets, provided their businesses met the program\u2019s eligibility requirements.The grants were intended to help keep struggling businesses in the live entertainment industry afloat during the pandemic, when venues and performances were shut down across the country.Instead, critics have pointed to instances in which large sums flowed to already wealthy entertainers and their business managers.The SBA now says it is attempting to recover money it determined was improperly awarded or remains subject to repayment.The agency began issuing rescission and demand letters to SVOG recipients in June 2025. Those recipients were given opportunities to appeal the agency\u2019s determinations or enter repayment agreements before the SBA pursued additional collection measures.The agency says it has recovered more than $50 million through voluntary and involuntary payments since the Trump administration began its recovery effort.The SBA said additional referrals could follow as it continues reviewing outstanding awards and resolving recipients\u2019 repayment obligations. The SBA\u2019s Office of Inspector General identified approximately $544 million in potentially improper SVOG payments. It also found that 2,590 awards worth approximately $4.8 billion remained open more than a year after they were supposed to have been closed out.A separate 2025 inspector general report found that 1,080 SVOG grants remained open as of May 2025, meaning the agency had not yet fully accounted for how the funds were used. Roughly two-thirds of those recipients had either failed to submit required audits or failed to respond to questions about their use of the funds.The program\u2019s problems began almost immediately after Congress authorized the grants.In 2021, amid pressure from lawmakers to get money out to struggling entertainment businesses as quickly as possible, the Biden administration directed SBA personnel to \u201cpresume applicant assertions to be true\u201d and expedited the review of applications under $500,000. As many as two-thirds of approved applicants were reportedly on the Treasury Department\u2019s Do Not Pay List. The SBA says its current effort is intended to restore accountability and ensure that pandemic-relief programs do not become a permanent loss for taxpayers.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-19T19:41:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"headline\":\"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-19T19:41:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455\"},\"wordCount\":873,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"Exclusive\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455\",\"name\":\"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back - Blue Route Journal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-19T19:41:59+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":675},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2455#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Blue Route Journal\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back - Blue Route Journal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back - Blue Route Journal","og_description":"The Trump administration is moving to claw back tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief that went to celebrities, music artists, and entertainment industry elites.The Small Business Administration announced Tuesday that it has referred $34 million in outstanding Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) debt to the Treasury Department, marking the first time the federal government has referred unresolved debt from the program to the Treasury for collection.The move is part of a broader effort by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler to recover pandemic-era funds that the agency says were improperly awarded or remain outstanding. \u201cUnder the Biden Administration, the SVOG program became one of the biggest cash-grabs of the pandemic,\u201d Loeffler said in a statement first obtained by The Daily Wire. \u201cFor the last year, the Trump SBA has been working to recoup funds meant for struggling small arts and entertainment businesses that ended up lining the pockets of celebrities, music artists, and elite talent agents.\u201d\u201cToday\u2019s $34 million referral to the Treasury Department is only the first one,\u201d she added, saying the agency will continue using \u201cevery lawful tool to claw back unmerited SVOG payments.\u201dThe Treasury referral comes after recipients failed to resolve outstanding repayment obligations through the SBA\u2019s debt-resolution process. The $34 million figure includes principal, applicable administrative costs, and accrued interest. The Biden administration never referred the outstanding SVOG debts to the Treasury for collection, according to the SBA.The SVOG program was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide emergency assistance to live venue operators, promoters, theatrical producers, performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, and talent representatives whose businesses were affected by pandemic-related shutdowns and revenue losses.Congress authorized $16.25 billion for the program, with individual applicants eligible for grants of up to $10 million.\u00a0But the program ultimately became a source of millions of dollars in federal aid for some of the entertainment industry\u2019s wealthiest names. Business Insider previously reported that musicians including Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Marshmello, and Steve Aoki received millions of dollars through the program.Lil Wayne\u2019s touring company received an $8.9 million grant. Records reviewed by Business Insider showed that more than $1.3 million was spent on private-jet flights and more than $460,000 on clothing and accessories, while nearly $88,000 was charged to taxpayers for a concert the rapper did not ultimately perform.Chris Brown\u2019s touring company received $10 million, with approximately $5.1 million going to Brown personally. His company also charged nearly $80,000 to the grant for his birthday party.Marshmello received $9.9 million, while Steve Aoki\u2019s touring company received millions more. Business Insider reported that Aoki\u2019s company used approximately $1.9 million of its grant for officer pay.The program\u2019s rules allowed recipients to spend grant money on a broad range of authorized business expenses, including payroll and owner compensation. That meant wealthy artists could qualify through corporate entities connected to their touring operations even if they personally possessed substantial assets, provided their businesses met the program\u2019s eligibility requirements.The grants were intended to help keep struggling businesses in the live entertainment industry afloat during the pandemic, when venues and performances were shut down across the country.Instead, critics have pointed to instances in which large sums flowed to already wealthy entertainers and their business managers.The SBA now says it is attempting to recover money it determined was improperly awarded or remains subject to repayment.The agency began issuing rescission and demand letters to SVOG recipients in June 2025. Those recipients were given opportunities to appeal the agency\u2019s determinations or enter repayment agreements before the SBA pursued additional collection measures.The agency says it has recovered more than $50 million through voluntary and involuntary payments since the Trump administration began its recovery effort.The SBA said additional referrals could follow as it continues reviewing outstanding awards and resolving recipients\u2019 repayment obligations. The SBA\u2019s Office of Inspector General identified approximately $544 million in potentially improper SVOG payments. It also found that 2,590 awards worth approximately $4.8 billion remained open more than a year after they were supposed to have been closed out.A separate 2025 inspector general report found that 1,080 SVOG grants remained open as of May 2025, meaning the agency had not yet fully accounted for how the funds were used. Roughly two-thirds of those recipients had either failed to submit required audits or failed to respond to questions about their use of the funds.The program\u2019s problems began almost immediately after Congress authorized the grants.In 2021, amid pressure from lawmakers to get money out to struggling entertainment businesses as quickly as possible, the Biden administration directed SBA personnel to \u201cpresume applicant assertions to be true\u201d and expedited the review of applications under $500,000. As many as two-thirds of approved applicants were reportedly on the Treasury Department\u2019s Do Not Pay List. The SBA says its current effort is intended to restore accountability and ensure that pandemic-relief programs do not become a permanent loss for taxpayers.","og_url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455","og_site_name":"Blue Route Journal","article_published_time":"2026-08-19T19:41:59+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"headline":"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back","datePublished":"2026-08-19T19:41:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455"},"wordCount":873,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif","articleSection":["Exclusive"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455","name":"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back - Blue Route Journal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif","datePublished":"2026-08-19T19:41:59+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/859cba80ccf237617da6e8124380ad6c.avif","width":1200,"height":675},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2455#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"EXCLUSIVE: A-Listers Got $34 Million In COVID Relief, The Trump Admin Is Trying To Get It Back"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/","name":"Blue Route Journal","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/blueroutejournal.com"],"url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}