SBE Council Statement on Day 30 of the Federal Government Shutdown

By SBE Council at 30 October, 2025, 1:46 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 30, 2025

Washington, D.C. - With the federal government shutdown in its 30th day, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) President & CEO Karen Kerrigan issued the following statement:

"For much longer than the 30 days that the federal government has been shut down we communicated the grave economic and financial risks of prolonged closure for small business owners, their employees, and the local communities they serve. The notion of 'leveraging' the financial livelihood and well-being of American families via the shutdown for political gain is appalling. The damage and uncertainty are rapidly spreading, which promises to get far worse when SNAP runs dry. We urge the Senate to vote once again - and to advance - a clean funding extension. Americans understand that Senate Democrats hold the key for securing the sixty votes needed to lift current financial worries and avoid the intense pain that awaits if the federal government remains shuttered."

"Health insurance premiums indeed are going higher, and that has been the case for small business owners and their employees since the passage of Obamacare. For the most part, small businesses have seen no relief - Obamacare's promise of more affordable choices remains elusive. Premiums are generally higher both inside and outside of the Obamacare exchange for 2026. Still, for Obamacare enrollees, premium payments remain generally low* because they are highly subsidized."

"The COVID-era subsidies deserve special debate and consideration. There's fraud and distortions that are driving premium prices higher across the health insurance ecosystem, and significant reforms are needed that would improve competitive choices and lower premiums for all. If Senators are serious about affordable choices and access to health care for all Americans, they would give this issue the serious attention it deserves and apart from leveraging the financial health and well-being of millions of Americans through their damaging shutdown theatrics."

*CMS: "The Health Insurance Marketplace^® Open Enrollment Period for plan year 2026 begins on November 1, 2025, and runs until January 15, 2026. The average HealthCare.gov premium after tax credits is projected to be $50 per month for the lowest cost plan in 2026 for eligible enrollees. This represents a $13 increase from 2025. When compared to years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marketplace enrollees this year will have access to, on average, plans with lower premiums after tax credits and more plan choices overall."

SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT:

On October 27, SBE Council joined a coalition of small business organizations in a letter to U.S. Senators urging passage of a clean continuing resolution (CR):

"On behalf of our organizations representing millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners, we are calling on U.S. Senators to put an end to the instability and hardship by passing a clean continuing resolution, which will allow negotiations to continue on spending measures moving through Congress, including the future of the COVID credits that will expire at year-end. The viability of thousands of small businesses is at risk due to the shutdown, and it is unacceptable that the livelihoods of owners and their employees are being sacrificed for spending demands that can be resolved through regular order."

LOSS OF CAPITAL:

According to Kelly Loeffler, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration: The SBA has had to shut off its capital lending programs, and roughly 6,000 small business loans totaling $4 billion have been affected.

See SBA's full analysis of state level impact here.

State Impact: PER WEEK- of the loss of millions in capital for small businesses within states of the Senate Democrat leadership who are driving the federal government shutdown train:

Senator Chuck Schumer - New York: $40,067,029 PER WEEK

Senator Richard Durbin - Illinois: $31,284,460 PER WEEK

Senator Amy Klobuchar - Minn.: $18,011,733 PER WEEK

Senator Cory Booker - New Jersey $25,824,965 PER WEEK

Senator Elizabeth Warren - Mass.: $15,059,148 PER WEEK

Senator Mark Warner - Virginia: $16,748,267 PER WEEK

Senator Bernie Sanders - VT: $1,586,902 PER WEEK

Senator Tammy Baldwin - Wisc. $14,530,523 PER WEEK

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto- NV: $10,052,313 PER WEEK

Senator Brian Schatz - Hawaii: $1,158,448 PER WEEK

Senator Chris Murphy - CT: $9,223,113 PER WEEK

SBA Releases State-Level Analysis of Shutdown Impact on Small Business Lending | U.S. Small Business Administration

CONTACT:

KAREN KERRIGAN, [email protected]

SBE Council is a nonpartisan advocacy, research and education organization dedicated to protecting small business and promoting entrepreneurship. For more than 30 years, SBE Council has advanced a range of private sector and public policy initiatives to strengthen the ecosystem for strong startup activity and small business growth.

Visit www.sbecouncil.orgfor additional information. X: @SBECouncil

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