Syed OK’d as deputy admin

      The Senate on June 8 confirmed Dilawar Syed as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration, ending more than two years of delays by Republicans on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

      Syed will be the highest-ranking Muslim official in the U.S. government.

      President Biden nominated Syed in March 2021. However, GOP members of the Senate committee repeatedly refused to attend the committee meetings in which a hearing on the nomination was scheduled.

      The Republicans raised concerns about SBA’s loans to abortion providers along with Syed’s ties to a Muslim-American voter registration group, among other objections.

      “While his confirmation has been a process fraught with unacceptable delaying tactics, unfounded accusations, and unrelated controversies, Mr. Syed has shown only patience and perseverance. I am confident that America’s small businesses and the communities they support will benefit from him in this role,” Committee Chair Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD, said in a statement. The position had been vacant for nearly five years.

      Syed was confirmed 54-42. Five Republicans voted in favor.

      The Pakistan-born Syed is a tech-oriented entrepreneur who has held executive positions at Lumiata healthcare AI company, Freshworks software and Yahoo!, among others. He currently serves as a Special Representative at t the State Dept. Syed’s starting date at SBA was not immediately available.

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