$2.5 Billion in Small Business Loans Blocked Since Shutdown Began

California has the most number of loans blocked per week at 212 loans worth more than $126 million.

Now hiring sign at a store in Norfolk, Va., on Oct. 5, 2025. Madalina Kilroy /The Epoch Times

The government shutdown has frozen the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) lending programs across the United States, blocking around $2.5 billion from being disbursed to 4,800 small businesses across the country, the agency said in an Oct. 21 statement.

“Each business day the shutdown continues, an estimated 320 small businesses nationwide are unable to access $170 million in SBA-backed commercial loans,” SBA said, adding that during fiscal year 2025, SBA had guaranteed a record 84,400 loans worth $45 billion.