"Ranking Member Markey Statement on MAGA Attack on Small Business Contractors"
Summary
A statement dated January 30, 2026 from Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, issued after the SBA announced it would suspend more than 1,000 small business contractors from the 8(a) Business Development Program. Markey states that the program was created more than 45 years ago and is open to anyone that qualifies, and answers Administrator Loeffler's claim that minority groups received outsized favorable treatment. The statement says more than a quarter of all 8(a) firms were suspended after the SBA asked 4,300 small contractors to submit extensive paperwork with limited guidance and time. The release adds that the SBA announced the financial information requirement on December 5th with 31 days to comply, later extended to January 19th, and that Markey and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) wrote to the SBA on December 23rd.
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Title: Ranking Member Markey Statement on MAGA Attack on Small Business Contractors Date: 2026-01-30 Ranking Member Markey Statement on MAGA Attack on Small Business Contractors January 30, 2026 Trump administration suspends 1,000+ small business contractors from 8(a) program (Washington, January 30) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released a statement following the Trump Small Business Administration’s (SBA) announcement to suspend more than 1,000 small business contractors in the 8(a) Business Development Program. The 8(a) program is designed to provide federal contracting opportunities and training to small business owners that are socially and economically disadvantaged. As Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senator Markey is fighting to protect federal programs that address historic discrimination against small business owners from minority and underserved communities. “Once again, the Trump administration is demonizing minority and underserved communities based on political whims continuing their campaign of contempt against communities of color. The 8(a) program was created more than 45 years ago to increase contracting opportunities for small businesses that have experienced systemic discrimination. Despite SBA’s false claims, this program is, and always has been, open to anyone that qualifies. “Administrator Loeffler claims that minority groups have received outsized favorable treatment. The irony is that the only ones receiving favorable treatment are large businesses with ties to the Trump administration: earlier this week, $1.6 billion in government contracts were made to a corporation connected to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s children. “While it’s important that proper oversight is conducted on any government program to protect against fraud, waste, and abuse, Trump’s SBA is putting the cart before the horse. It’s clear its investigation into the 8(a) program appears to have a fixed outcome. More than a quarter of all 8(a) firms have been suspended, not because of fraud or failed contracts, but because these firms were set up to fail by the SBA. The agency asked 4,300 small contractors to submit extensive paperwork with limited guidance and time to comply with the request. Small businesses operate on thin margins and don’t have teams of lawyers and accountants to comply with rushed requests sent out on a whim over the holidays.” On December 5th, SBA announced that every 8(a) firm would be required to provide detailed financial information to the agency with limited guidance. The SBA initially provided just 31 days to comply with their request, over the holidays, before extending the deadline to January 19th. On December 23rd, Ranking Member Markey and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) sent a letter to the Small Business Administration expressing concern about whether 8(a) firms would be able to comply with the SBA’s request for documentation as a part of their “investigation” into the 8(a) program. Despite these concerns that were expressed by 8(a) firms, SBA never responded to the letter. ### Permalink: https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/1/ranking-member-markey-statement-on-maga-attack-on-small-business-contractors
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