Some small business owners in the United States are facing delays in receiving loan approvals and financial support due to a government shutdown, according to an opinion piece by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business. Williams wrote that these delays are affecting daily operations for many businesses.
“Somewhere in America, a small business owner is checking their email, waiting for an approval for their loan that is not coming. Another is checking their payroll, trying to decide if they can make it another day without Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance or whether they will be forced to close their doors. Plans are stalled, paychecks are delayed, and confidence has slipped," Williams said.
He added that this situation repeats itself frequently: “This scene will repeat itself again in five minutes. Then five minutes after that. And again, after that.”
Williams attributes the difficulties faced by small businesses to what he calls the "Democrat Shutdown." He explained that as Chairman of the committee, he hears from business owners who cannot access SBA guaranteed loans during the shutdown. He estimates that each day of the shutdown results in about 320 small businesses being unable to obtain these loans.
He cited a recent Goldman Sachs survey of 1,500 small business owners showing that most believe it is important for Congress to reach a spending agreement soon and expect lower customer demand if the shutdown continues.
According to Williams, before the shutdown began, small businesses were experiencing strong growth and lending activity. The SBA reportedly ended fiscal year 2025 with over 84,000 guaranteed loans totaling nearly $45 billion—described as its strongest year on record.
Williams criticized Senate Democrats for blocking a Continuing Resolution intended to keep government services running. He referenced Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's warning that the shutdown could cost the economy $15 billion per week.
“Small businesses cannot run on political timelines and wait for negotiations or headlines to shift," Williams said. He noted that key programs such as SBA’s 7(a) and 504 loans are currently unavailable due to the funding lapse.
Williams described how these disruptions affect not only individual businesses but also communities across the country through missed paychecks and reduced economic activity: “The effects ripple far beyond Washington. When cash flow freezes, communities slow down... Those missed paychecks mean families unable to complete everyday purchases at their local stores.”
He argued that House Republicans passed legislation aimed at keeping government operations open but accused Democrats of prioritizing other issues instead: “House Republicans did our job. We passed a measure to keep the government open and capital flowing..."
Williams concluded by calling for an end to what he called "the Democrat Shutdown" so Main Street businesses can regain stability: “Every minute the government stays closed is another dream crushed."
