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The Senate's Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee voted Wednesday by a 12-7 margin to advance the nomination of President Donald Trump's pick for the Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator to the Senate floor.
Kelly Loeffler, a prominent business executive and philanthropist who served as a senator from Georgia for two years, appeared before the committee on Jan. 28 and pledged to donate her annual $207,500 salary to charity.
Loeffler and her husband, Jeff, created a Fortune 500 financial services and technology company together.
"Like President Trump, Senator Loeffler left behind a successful career in the private sector to advance the America First agenda," Loeffler spokeswoman Caitlin O'Dea told Fox News Jan. 28. "Should she be confirmed, she will continue the practice of donating her federal salary to charities and nonprofits across the country - and put her full focus on working to make the Small Business Administration a gateway to the American Dream for entrepreneurs across the country."
TRUMP CABINET NOMINEE LOEFFLER PLEDGED TO DONATE SALARY IF CONFIRMED
Loeffler, whose net worth is estimated at roughly $1 billion, previously donated her annual Senate salary of $174,000 between 2019 and 2021 to more than 40 Georgia charities and nonprofits.
Those organizations included food banks, faith groups and organizations opposed to abortion, foster care/adoption groups as well as organizations promoting health care, agriculture, education, law enforcement and disaster relief.
Loeffler also sparred with Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass, during her confirmation hearing over the Trump administration's announcement that it would freeze federal funds and grants.
On Jan. 27, the Office of Management and Budget released a memo ordering a pause on all federal grants and loans aiming to eradicate "wokeness" and the "weaponization of government" to improve government efficiency.
LEAVITT PUSHES BACK ON MEDIA'S 'UNCERTAINTY' ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE
The White House pulled the memo on Jan. 29, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the move didn't equate a "recission of the federal funding freeze."
Markey asked Loeffler whether she believed the move was lawful or not, amid concerns from members of Congress that the Trump administration attempted to circumvent Congress and withhold funds.
"I fully agree with President Trump's decision to stop wasteful spending," Loeffler told Markey. "It resulted in a landslide victory that many Americans were waiting for relief against excessive government spending."
Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
