NEWS | Senate Moves to End Shutdown: What Small Businesses Need to Know

 

After nearly six weeks of the longest government shutdown on record, last night, the Senate passed a procedural motion to advance a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to reopen federal agencies and fund most government operations through January 30.

The measure includes full-year funding for the Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs and military construction, while extending temporary funding for all other federal departments and agencies.

For small-business owners who have faced loan delays, halted contract payments, and uncertainty in federal programs during the 40-day record-breaking shutdown, this CR provides critical breathing room:

• SBA Loan Access Restored: The bill ensures the Small Business Administration (SBA) can operate at the rate necessary to meet demand for its cornerstone 7(a) loan guarantee program, helping businesses secure working capital, refinance debt, and expand operations.

• Federal Contract Stability: By prohibiting agencies from reducing full-time staff or withholding back pay, the measure helps prevent further disruption to small firms that depend on federal contracts and payments.

• Continuity in Agriculture and Disaster Programs: The package extends several key programs through early 2026, including farm bill support programs, the National Flood Insurance Program, and FEMA disaster relief funding, all of which provide crucial safety nets for small businesses, especially in rural or disaster-prone areas.

• Public Health and Community Support: The resolution also extends funding for community health centers and other health programs that support workforce stability and local economic resilience.

The CR will serve as a bridge while lawmakers finalize the remaining nine full-year appropriations bills for fiscal 2026. Senate leaders have pledged additional negotiations on health care provisions, including the extension of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire at year’s end.

For now, small-business owners can expect a near-term return to normal operations, many of whom will welcome the CR progress after weeks of halted payments, lost revenue, and mounting uncertainty.

As the NSBA and its Small Business Technology Council (SBTC) continue to urge lawmakers to deliver long-term funding solutions, this step marks a necessary reprieve for the small-business community and a reminder of how vital stability in government operations is to the nation’s economic engine.