The GOP reveals a fresh $100B talking point as the battle for Congress looms

The Small Business Administration guaranteed over $39.5B in loans despite a 43-day government shutdown halting lending

By Amanda Macias Fox News
Published November 2, 2026 6:00am EST

SBA chief says small businesses need relief from tax and regulation fears

Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler says business owners are eager to expand but need confidence that Washington won’t bring heavier taxes and regulation.

EXCLUSIVE: With both parties vying to convince voters they have the better answer on the economy, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler is pointing to $100 billion in support for local employers as proof that Trump’s policies are working.

“We just recorded our second consecutive year of getting $100 billion to Main Street businesses,” Loeffler told Fox News Digital, crediting Trump’s tax cuts, deregulation and trade policies.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BUILT THE AMERICAN DREAM. DEMOCRATS WANT TO TAKE IT FROM YOU

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Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the US Small Business Administration (SBA), during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.(Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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The economic debate could help determine which party controls Congress, as both parties try to persuade voters their policies will improve household finances and business prospects.

Loeffler said the business owners she meets want to expand but need confidence that Washington will support long-term investment. They most often tell her they need more skilled workers, she said.

DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES ARE WINNING PRIMARIES AND THEIR VISION FOR AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT

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President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally at Rock Hill Sports and Event Center on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Rock Hill, S.C.(Scott Kinser/AP)

“What they can’t tolerate is having Washington say that they’re gonna massively regulate them, massively tax them,” she said.

The Small Business Administration said it guaranteed 62,205 loans worth $39.5 billion through its 7(a) and 504 programs in fiscal 2026, its third-highest loan volume on record.

The agency’s $100 billion total also includes private investment, disaster aid and business support.

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The 2026 midterms will determine control of the House and Senate, shaping President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda during the final two years of his term.(Al Drago/Getty Images)

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The SBA said the 43-day government shutdown halted lending through its main loan programs for nearly two months, preventing an estimated $5 billion in financing over the fiscal year.

Amanda Macias covers the intersection of business, economics and politics, with a focus on how policy decisions shape markets, businesses and American workers.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6407764525112