Congressman is investigating fintech Ramp’s attempt to win $25M federal contract

Rep. Gerald Connolly, ranking member of the U.S. House Oversight Committee, has initiated an investigation into whether expense management startup Ramp is receiving preferential treatment in its bid for a $25 million government contract. Connolly sent a letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) Acting Administrator, Stephen Ehikian, demanding information and documents related to the GSA’s reported plans to award a contract for a pilot program to Ramp. News of the probe was first reported by ProPublica. Among Connolly’s biggest concerns are that Ramp allegedly has “zero federal contracting experience” and its investors include a number of Trump allies and supporters. Those investors include Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund; Keith Rabois of Khosla Ventures; Thrive Capital, which was founded by Josh Kushner, brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared; vocal Trump supporter 8VC’s Joe Lonsdale and Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida and brother of former Republican President George W. Bush ... Read full article.