"Following Supreme Court Order on Federal Employee Layoffs, Ranking Member Markey Introduces Legislation to Prevent Workforce Cuts at the Small Business…

Summary

Press release of July 10, 2025 in which Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) announced the Save Our Staff (SOS) Act. The bill would bar the Small Business Administration from Reductions in Force in most offices, including those for counseling, disaster relief, lending and contracting certifications, and would require the SBA Administrator to reemploy, with backpay, anyone removed in a RIF from January 20, 2025 through enactment. The release ties it to the Supreme Court’s July 8 order lifting a lower court order that had blocked President Trump’s executive order on federal layoffs. It says SBA Administrator Loeffler announced on March 21 a 43 percent workforce cut, about 2,700 of approximately 6,500 employees, and that the “skinny budget” seeks a $111 million (31 percent) cut to SBA salaries and expenses. AFGE National President Everett B. Kelley endorses the bill.

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Title: Following Supreme Court Order on Federal Employee Layoffs, Ranking Member Markey Introduces Legislation to Prevent Workforce Cuts at the Small Business Administration
Date: 2025-07-10

Following Supreme Court Order on Federal Employee Layoffs, Ranking Member Markey Introduces Legislation to Prevent Workforce Cuts at the Small Business Administration

July 10, 2025

Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)

(Washington, July 10) - Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced the Save Our Staff (SOS) Act, legislation that would prohibit the Small Business Administration (SBA) from conducting Reductions in Force (RIFs) in most offices of the SBA, including offices that provide counseling, training, or technical assistance to small businesses, carry out SBA disaster relief programs, oversee any of SBA’s lending programs, or provide contracting certifications to small business owners. In addition, the SOS Act would require the SBA Administrator to reemploy any individual that was removed as part of a RIF process from January 20, 2025, through the date of enactment. Any employee rehired under this bill would be restored to their previous position and receive backpay.

On July 8, the Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that had blocked President Trump’s executive order requiring government agencies to lay off hundreds of thousands of federal employees. In her dissent, Justice Jackson wrote that the decision would, “allow an apparently unprecedented and congressionally unsanctioned dismantling of the Federal Government to continue apace, causing irreparable harm before courts can determine whether the President has the authority to engage in the actions he proposes.”

"The SBA plays a vital role in supporting our country’s small businesses and entrepreneurs — the backbone of the American economy. Instead of supporting America’s businesses, Trump and SBA Administrator Loeffler are trying to gut the SBA’s workforce, making it harder for business owners to access the resources they need to be successful,” said Ranking Member Markey. “The Save Our Staff Act would prohibit staff firings in offices that provide counseling and assistance to small business entrepreneurs and stop the Trump administration from playing games with people’s businesses and livelihoods. Small business owners deserve better than this uncertainty and chaos."

“The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents thousands of workers at the U.S. Small Business Administration, proudly endorses the Save Our Staff (SOS) Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA). This legislation is a lifeline for the dedicated public servants who make the SBA run and who help America’s small businesses thrive,” said AFGE National President Everett B. Kelley. “Senator Markey understands that you can’t gut the workforce and still expect results. These cuts are not just unfair—they're dangerous to our economic future. The bill would block further reductions in force (RIFs) in key SBA offices and require the agency to reinstate and compensate workers already removed since January. AFGE urges Congress to pass the SOS Act without delay.”

America’s 34 million small businesses rely on the SBA’s counseling, training, disaster, contracting, and lending services to start and grow their small businesses, particularly during times of economic uncertainty. On March 21, SBA Administrator Loeffler  announced that the agency would cut 43 percent of its workforce. Prior to this announcement, SBA had approximately 6,500 employees, meaning a 43 percent cut would result in about 2,700 individuals losing their jobs. On May 2, President Trump released his “skinny budget” which calls for a $111 million reduction (31 percent) to the SBA’s salaries and expenses account.

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