The SBA says it delivered $100 billion in capital and support this fiscal year, even as a 43-day shutdown froze its lending. Here is what that means for borrowers.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the federal agency that helps small companies get financing, says it delivered $100 billion in capital and support in fiscal year 2026. It did so despite a 43-day federal shutdown that froze its lending. For anyone planning to borrow, the shutdown matters as much as the big number.
The agency guaranteed 62,205 loans through its 7(a) and 504 programs, worth $39.5 billion. A guarantee means the government backs a loan made by a lender. The SBA says that is its third-highest lending total ever, or about 1,350 loans a week. Other figures from the report:
Two new programs got early use. The 90% Made in America Guarantee approved 149 loans totaling nearly $300 million. The Grocery Guarantee approved 79 loans totaling $145 million. The SBA also approved 5,879 disaster loans worth $272 million and put $419 million toward training, counseling and support services.
While the shutdown lasted, SBA lending stopped. The agency estimates that kept about $170 million in loans per day from being guaranteed. Owners who were waiting on a loan during that stretch had no way to move forward until the government reopened.
The $100 billion is the SBA's own figure, and the material does not show how it adds up. Guaranteed loans account for $39.5 billion of it. It is also unclear how many applications were delayed or whether the lost lending was made up later. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler credited the administration's agenda for record new business formation in 2026.
Anyone planning to borrow should build in extra time. A government shutdown can freeze SBA loans, so a tight deadline is risky. The SBA's training and counseling services may also help owners work through federal programs before they apply.
If you plan to borrow through the SBA, leave extra time, because a government shutdown can freeze loans for weeks.
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