Press Releases

Ahead of today’s House Small Business Subcommittee hearing, Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee Chairman Mark Alford (MO-04) introduced the Returning SBA to Main Street Act. This legislation will decentralize the Small Business Administration (SBA) by relocating 30% of SBA D.C. headquarters employees across the country to be closer to the Americans they serve. The Senate version of this bill is led by Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA).

Read the full text of the legislation here.

“The days of the federal government leaving rural small businesses on the sidelines are over,” said Congressman Alford. “Under the Biden Administration, SBA headquarters were often empty, preventing small businesses from getting the counseling they need. By relocating these workers into the communities they serve, we can provide our nation’s small businesses with the support they deserve and reduce wasteful spending on unused office space. I’m proud to work with Chair Joni Ernst on this critical legislation to drain the swamp and ignite a new golden age for the backbone of our economy—American small businesses.”

“Every small business owner knows that if your customers can’t reach you, your doors won’t be open very long,” said Senator Ernst. “The SBA might as well have had a closed for business sign on its door for the last four years with bureaucrats permanently out of office. One more way to improve the SBA’s customer service and better serve the American people is to get bureaucrats out of the beltway bubble and closer to Main Street.”

“After four years of vacant buildings under the Biden Administration, it is important the SBA returns to working for Main Street America,” said House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (TX-25). “Small business owners, especially those in small, rural communities, face unique challenges. The best way for SBA employees to help small business owners is to move out of the beltway and closer to Main Street America. I am thankful to Rep. Alford for introducing this bill and ensuring small businesses are provided with the best possible service so they can grow and succeed.”

Background:

According to a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, SBA headquarters was operating at a mere 10% capacity under the previous administration. This, combined with lax telework policies, prevented the SBA from fully fulfilling its statutory mandate. Our office has received countless complaints from constituents unable to get basic SBA services.

The Returning SBA to Main Street Act complements the work of the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by saving taxpayer money on unused office space, making SBA interactions with small businesses more efficient, and improving SBA’s customer service.

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