WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, led committee members and other House Democrats in sending a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA), raising serious concerns about the abrupt decision to relocate six SBA regional offices.
On March 6th, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced plans to relocate regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle, with local immigration policy used as justification. In the letter, the lawmakers decry the move as politically motivated and designed to hurt Democratic cities.
“Your decision to relocate regional offices in six major cities with high concentrations of Democratic residents is a blatant weaponization of the SBA for political gain,” wrote the lawmakers. “To be clear, we firmly believe that our cities should be safe, all acts of violence should be taken seriously, and violent crimes should not be tolerated. But the targeting of these cities is clearly punitive, unjust, and counterproductive.”
In the letter, the lawmakers also highlight the disruption the relocations would have on local economies and small businesses in some of America’s largest cities.
“We are in the midst of troubling and uncertain times, and the Trump administration is sending the economy into a period of slower growth and higher inflation with his tariffs, continued the lawmakers. “Small businesses are paying the price. They need certainty, and your decision to relocate the regional offices only adds to the chaos for millions of small businesses in the metropolitan areas”
The lawmakers are demanding regular in-person briefings from the SBA and have requested key documents, including:
- The criteria used to justify the office relocations
- A detailed list of affected employees and their status
- An explanation of how the move will improve services for small businesses
- A cost analysis of the relocations and their funding source
- Plans to maintain SBA services in major economic hubs
In addition to Ranking Member Velázquez, the letter was signed by Reps. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY). Hillary Scholten (D-MI), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Dr. Kelly Morrison (D-MN), George Latimer (D-NY), Derek Tran (D-CA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Dr. Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
To read a full version of the letter, click here.
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