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  • White House: President ready to sign deal that ends government shutdown

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    Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said today that the president is ready to sign this deal to reopen the government, framing tonight as the end of *** 43 day standoff that left millions unpaid. Obviously the president’s main priority was to reopen the federal government and get people back to work, and that’s what this deal accomplishes. While the shutdown may end tonight, that doesn’t mean things are going to snap back to pre-shutdown status immediately. Air travel will most certainly have lingering impacts, the Transportation Secretary said. It will depend on how quickly air traffic controllers get back on the job. Many also retired during the shutdown. The FAA administrator said air traffic controllers will receive their full back pay within 1 week, but it’s unclear how quickly other federal workers will get paid. After past shutdowns. It took as many as 8 weeks for some to get repaid. As for SNAP benefits, when you receive them may depend on where you live. The American Public Human Services Association anticipates most states will be able to issue full benefits within 3 days after the shutdown, but for others it may take about *** week, and that’s because there could be complications with states that issued partial benefits due to the shutdown. The Small Business Administration told me today that once the government reopens, they’ll be able to start processing and approving small business loans immediately at the White House, I’m Christopher.
    Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said today that the president is ready to sign this deal to reopen the government, framing tonight as the end of *** 43 day standoff that left millions unpaid. Obviously the president’s main priority was to reopen the federal government and get people back to work, and that’s what this deal accomplishes. While the shutdown may end tonight, that doesn’t mean things are going to snap back to pre-shutdown status immediately. Air travel will most certainly have lingering impacts, the Transportation Secretary said. It will depend on how quickly air traffic controllers get back on the job. Many also retired during the shutdown. The FAA administrator said air traffic controllers will receive their full back pay within 1 week, but it’s unclear how quickly other federal workers will get paid. After past shutdowns. It took as many as 8 weeks for some to get repaid. As for SNAP benefits, when you receive them may depend on where you live. The American Public Human Services Association anticipates most states will be able to issue full benefits within 3 days after the shutdown, but for others it may take about *** week, and that’s because there could be complications with states that issued partial benefits due to the shutdown. The Small Business Administration told me today that once the government reopens, they’ll be able to start processing and approving small business loans immediately at the White House, I’m Christopher.

    White House: President ready to sign deal that ends government shutdown

    The government shutdown, now in its 43rd day, may conclude tonight as the House plans to vote on reopening, with the president ready to sign the agreement.

    Updated: 5:20 PM EST Nov 12, 2025

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    White House Correspondent

    The government shutdown, which has lasted nearly 43 days, could end tonight as the House prepares to vote on reopening the federal government, with the president ready to sign the agreement. The White House press secretary framed tonight as the end of a standoff that left hundreds of thousands of people out of work and millions without pay.”Obviously, the president’s main priority was to reopen the federal government and get people back to work, and that’s what this deal accomplishes,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary.While the shutdown may end tonight, the return to pre-shutdown status will not be immediate. Air travel is expected to experience lingering impacts, as the transportation secretary noted that the speed of recovery will depend on how quickly air traffic controllers return to work, with many having retired during the shutdown. The FAA administrator stated that air traffic controllers will receive their full back pay within a week, but it remains unclear how quickly other federal workers will be compensated. In previous shutdowns, it took up to eight weeks for some workers to receive back pay.Regarding SNAP benefits, the American Public Human Services Association anticipates that most states will issue full benefits within three days after the shutdown ends, though some states may take about a week due to complications from issuing partial benefits during the shutdown.The Small Business Administration has indicated that once the government reopens, it will immediately begin processing and approving loans for small businesses.An AP News/NORC poll shows the president’s job approval suffered during the shutdown, with approval among Republicans for his handling of the federal government dropping from 81% in March to 68% this past week. Only one in four independents now approve of his management of the government. Despite this decline, the president’s overall approval rating and his handling of key issues like the economy and immigration remain largely unchanged.Regarding the lawsuit about SNAP benefits that went to the Supreme Court, the administration stated that full benefits will be paid once the government reopens, rendering the lawsuit moot.Get the latest from our Washington Bureau here:

    WASHINGTON —

    The government shutdown, which has lasted nearly 43 days, could end tonight as the House prepares to vote on reopening the federal government, with the president ready to sign the agreement.

    The White House press secretary framed tonight as the end of a standoff that left hundreds of thousands of people out of work and millions without pay.

    “Obviously, the president’s main priority was to reopen the federal government and get people back to work, and that’s what this deal accomplishes,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary.

    While the shutdown may end tonight, the return to pre-shutdown status will not be immediate. Air travel is expected to experience lingering impacts, as the transportation secretary noted that the speed of recovery will depend on how quickly air traffic controllers return to work, with many having retired during the shutdown.

    The FAA administrator stated that air traffic controllers will receive their full back pay within a week, but it remains unclear how quickly other federal workers will be compensated. In previous shutdowns, it took up to eight weeks for some workers to receive back pay.

    Regarding SNAP benefits, the American Public Human Services Association anticipates that most states will issue full benefits within three days after the shutdown ends, though some states may take about a week due to complications from issuing partial benefits during the shutdown.

    The Small Business Administration has indicated that once the government reopens, it will immediately begin processing and approving loans for small businesses.

    An AP News/NORC poll shows the president’s job approval suffered during the shutdown, with approval among Republicans for his handling of the federal government dropping from 81% in March to 68% this past week. Only one in four independents now approve of his management of the government. Despite this decline, the president’s overall approval rating and his handling of key issues like the economy and immigration remain largely unchanged.

    Regarding the lawsuit about SNAP benefits that went to the Supreme Court, the administration stated that full benefits will be paid once the government reopens, rendering the lawsuit moot.

    Get the latest from our Washington Bureau here:

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  • Government Shutdown: SBA to Furlough 23 Percent of Staff. Here’s What Services Will End

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    The Small Business Administration plans to furlough roughly 23 percent of its workforce if the government shuts down–and more than a dozen core agency services will halt if funding lapses. 

    Out of its 6,201-person workforce, 4,745 agency workers will be retained in the event of a shutdown, according to the agency’s funding lapse plan. As of Tuesday, the odds of a federal shutdown climbed as negotiations on Capitol Hill among top lawmakers stalled.

    The SBA’s capital access office, field operations, and general counsel are among those that are most impacted in terms of head count.

    Core loan program services including the agency’s flagship 7(a) loan program will halt, meaning that the agency will neither approve new loans nor service existing ones. The same can be said for the agency’s 504 loan program and its microloan program. 

    That said, the agency will continue to disperse direct loans under its disaster aid program. 

    SBA staffers will also be on tap to help with loan forgiveness and repayment options for pandemic-era programs, including the Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster loan program, plus the Paycheck Protection Program.

    And the agency will continue to dole out awards for the Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology Transfer program, which help fledgling startups with R&D efforts to encourage innovation. 

    Businesses owned by Native Americans will continue to receive aid from the agency as well. 

    Procurement support for women-owned small business contracting and service-disabled veteran-owned small business contracting will get put on ice. No new applications will be processed. 

    But the agency will retain some staffers to assist with small business set-aside programs for federal contractors that will continue to work throughout a shutdown. The agency’s HUBZone program, which helps entrepreneurs in “historically underutilized business zones” with federal procurement, will continue to accept and process new applications. 

    The SBA will also pause all support for the 8(a) Business Development program, the secondary market loan program, and the Small Business Investment Company program.

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    Melissa Angell

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  • Financial help for small businesses affected by Baltimore Key Bridge collapse – WTOP News

    Financial help for small businesses affected by Baltimore Key Bridge collapse – WTOP News

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    Federal loans are now available through the Small Business Administration for small businesses in the mid-Atlantic affected by the closure of the port of Baltimore, due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

    For all the latest developments in Congress, follow WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller at Today on the Hill.

    Federal loans are now available through the Small Business Administration for small businesses in the mid-Atlantic affected by the closure of the port of Baltimore, due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

    The SBA opened a Business Recovery Center in Dundalk on Monday.

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore had requested a disaster declaration by the SBA, which has been granted.

    The declaration covers all of Maryland and extends to D.C. It also covers parts of Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties and Alexandria.

    It also includes counties in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

    “As Baltimore and the wider community mourn and start to rebuild, the SBA and the Biden-Harris Administration stand ready to help local small businesses get through the economic disruption caused by the bridge collapse,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman in a statement.

    Small businesses can apply for a federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan, which can be up to $2 million.

    The loan can be used for a wide range of operating expenses, such as payroll, if they can’t be paid because of issues involving the port of Baltimore.

    In addition to getting help with loan applications in-person in Dundalk, businesses can apply online.

    U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a member of the Senate Small Business Administration Committee, said it is important that businesses have financial help available if they need it.

    “We’re working with Gov. Moore and his office and the SBA administrator, to make sure that those small businesses and independent contractors have the full services of the Small Business Administration to deal with their cash needs,” Cardin said. “We want to make sure these businesses move forward.”

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Mitchell Miller

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  • ‘This is the last thing we need:’ Millions of businesses hammered by the pandemic need to start paying back Covid loans | CNN Business

    ‘This is the last thing we need:’ Millions of businesses hammered by the pandemic need to start paying back Covid loans | CNN Business

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    CNN
     — 

    At Teddy & The Bully Bar restaurant near downtown Washington, DC, business has never been the same since the pandemic hit.

    “It’s very challenging,” owner Alan Popovsky said. “I’m still going to be climbing the hill for quite some time. Probably for the rest of my life.”

    The pandemic closed two of Popovsky’s four restaurants in the area. He said government loans saved the other two. But with city centers struggling to bring back commuters and foot traffic, he said revenue is still down more than 45%, and they’re fighting to stay open.

    To make matters worse, it’s time to start paying back those loans.

    “We just got over paying back the landlord,” Popovsky said. “It’s really a feeling that you’re just a hamster spinning on a wheel.”

    At the start of the pandemic, as business stalled, nearly 3.8 million small business owners took out Economic Injury Disaster Loans (known as EIDL loans) from the federal government, averaging roughly $100,000 per loan, according to the Small Business Administration. Unlike some other pandemic programs, these 30-year loans, carrying an interest rate of 3.75% for businesses, were intended to be paid back.

    After more than two years of deferrals, the first EIDL loan monthly payments have started to come due. Around 2.6 million businesses across the country will owe money by the end of January.

    Popovsky said he owes the federal government roughly $780,000, and started receiving monthly bills for more than $3,700 in October.

    “We can’t afford anything, but what we’re doing is paying the interest only right now,” he said. “We have not made a dent on the principal.”

    A new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business found only 36% of their small business members have reached their pre-pandemic sales levels, while 31% of businesses are still below 75% of their pre-crisis sales.

    Coming out of the pandemic, small businesses have faced difficult hurdles, like staffing shortages, supply chain issues and inflation.

    Now add a possible looming recession, just as these EIDL loans come due.

    “The challenges are immense for many of them and they’re having to navigate a lot of those headwinds,” said Holly Wade, executive director of the NFIB Research Center. “It is one more cost that they’re going to have to deal with, and some small business owners, unfortunately, are going to struggle with meeting those obligations.”

    Lisa Klein, who owns a physical therapy practice in the Washington, DC, area, said Covid-19 is still keeping some patients away.

    Lisa Klein, who owns and operates an outpatient physical therapy practice with offices in Virginia and in Washington, DC, said her practice is still trying to claw its way back after Covid-19, which is keeping some patients away or forcing costly last-minute cancellations.

    “The costs of everything have gone up,” Klein said. “The whole business is still suffering, and this is just kind of adding insult to injury.”

    Klein took out a $200,000 EIDL loan at the start of the pandemic but returned half of it after a year as the interest began piling up. The SBA estimates that businesses have accrued between $32 billion and $34 billion in interest over the 30-month deferment period.

    She’s now paying nearly $1,000 a month, with a total balance of just under $80,000.

    “It’s like you’re swimming and trying to catch up and get your head above water, and you just keep getting hit by something else,” Klein said. “But we have no choice, because if we don’t keep paying it, it’s going to accrue more interest.”

    Struggling businesses can declare hardship and make partial payments of 10% of the regular monthly payment with a minimum of $25 for six months, according to the SBA. But interest will keep accruing, forcing owners like Klein to weigh short-term protection against a big bill further down the line.

    Borrowers are still responsible for repaying loans even if their business closes, unless the debt has been discharged in bankruptcy, according to the SBA. For EIDL loans over $200,000, a personal guaranty was required for individuals with 20% or more ownership in the business.

    Popovsky said he has considered shutting down Teddy & The Bully Bear but has felt inspired to keep fighting by the memory of his father as well as his co-founder, Melvyn, who passed away in 2014, just one year after the restaurant opened.

    “I feel them saying keep pushing on, Alan, keep pushing on,” he said. “I feel like they’re the wind beneath my wings.”

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