The House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on Mar. 18 to examine the role and outreach of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Field Operations over the past year.
The hearing focused on how the SBA connects with small businesses across the country, especially through its field offices, and how recent changes have impacted entrepreneurs. The discussion highlighted efforts to decentralize operations from Washington, D.C., and bring resources closer to local communities.
Chairman Roger Williams said, "The U.S. Small Business Administration’s job is to be a voice and an advocate for Main Street. Unfortunately, under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA was centralized in Washington, D.C. and out of reach for many entrepreneurs. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Loeffler, the agency has returned to its intended mission: working for small businesses—moving employees out of D.C. and into Main Street America, where they can be a resource for the hard-working men and women who drive our economy."
During the hearing, Williams also noted that under Administrator Loeffler’s leadership, the SBA has been involved in onshoring initiatives such as the Made in America Roadshow. He said that in 2025 alone, SBA field offices hosted 683 events aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains.
Ms. Shimkat described her experiences at these events: "We had a roundtable—actually in Newark, New Jersey—and the administrator was there... That was an aha moment for the administrator and our team: we needed to be that conduit, that concierge service, to really connect folks with suppliers so we can focus on onshoring." She added that new tools like an onshoring portal now connect over a million suppliers nationwide.
Committee members also discussed regulatory challenges faced by small businesses and how district offices work directly with business owners to address their concerns. Shimkat explained that with 68 district offices across the United States, staff are able to meet with business owners locally: "We can take that information and work with the National Ombudsman Office...to hopefully shorten the runway to success for a lot of those small businesses so that they can see financial success." She also shared stories from recent visits highlighting optimism among business owners due to improved access to resources.
Looking ahead, committee members indicated continued oversight of SBA field operations as they aim to further support American small businesses.
