Linda Loeffler has been making significant moves as the newly appointed Administrator of the Small Business Administration, with her leadership focused on modernizing the agency and strengthening support for American small businesses and manufacturers.

One of the most notable recent developments involves Senator Joni Ernst calling for a comprehensive audit of the SBA's 8(a) program. On November 12, Ernst sent letters to Loeffler and the SBA Office of Inspector General expressing concerns about the program, followed by the introduction of a bill on November 17 that would halt all 8(a) sole source contract awards until the audit is completed. The bill would suspend the SBA's authority to award sole source contracts except in cases where national security is involved. Ernst's letter commends Loeffler's own audit initiative of the 8(a) program, suggesting the administrator is already taking steps to examine potential issues within the program, particularly regarding unfair advantages and fraud allegations related to entity owned firms.

On the legislative front, Loeffler has been actively supporting measures to expand small business lending. The House recently passed the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act, which Loeffler applauded as it doubles the SBA's loan limit from 5 million dollars to 10 million dollars for small manufacturers. This change is intended to help domestic manufacturers access more capital through the SBA's 7(a) and 504 lending programs. The House also passed four additional bipartisan bills supporting small businesses, including measures to modernize SBA IT systems, strengthen rural affairs, and extend fraud enforcement efforts related to pandemic relief programs.

Loeffler's tenure as SBA Administrator, which begins on February 19, 2025, comes at a time when the agency is managing record loan activity. In fiscal year 2025, the SBA guaranteed 84,400 loans totaling 45 billion dollars, reflecting strong demand from job creators seeking capital for investment and expansion.

The administrator's focus appears centered on balancing program integrity through audits and fraud prevention while simultaneously expanding access to capital for small manufacturers and rural businesses. Her work coordinating with Congress on these legislative efforts demonstrates an active engagement with stakeholders across the business community.

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