Furloughed SBA Staffers Send Auto‑Replies Blaming Democrats
During the early‑October 2025 partial federal shutdown, Small Business Administration employees placed on furlough set automatic out‑of‑office email responses that attribute the shutdown to Senate Democrats blocking H.R. 5371. Fox News Digital obtained the auto‑reply text and an internal SBA human‑resources email that provided staff a suggested template and step‑by‑step setup guide; the messages also warned that many SBA services are unavailable and cited an estimate that roughly 320 small businesses were blocked from accessing about $170 million in guaranteed loans.
Politics
Economy
🔍 Key Facts
- SBA staffers on furlough configured automatic response emails blaming 'Senate Democrats' for blocking H.R. 5371 and causing the shutdown.
- Fox News Digital obtained an internal SBA HR email that included suggested auto‑reply language and instructions for employees.
- The auto‑reply text cited concrete figures: about 320 small businesses unable to access roughly $170 million in SBA‑guaranteed funding; the SBA website displays a 'Special Announcement' referencing Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
📍 Contextual Background
- The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown on 2025-10-01 after the midnight funding deadline passed with Democrats and Republicans failing to agree on a funding bill.