House Small Business subcommittee presses SBA on politicization, staffing and regional office moves

WASHINGTON — The House Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations held a hearing focused on “restoring the SBA to its original mission of serving Main Street America,” the panel’s chair said, as members questioned agency stability, staffing changes and recent policy directions.

“Welcome to today's hearing, which will focus on restoring the SBA to its original mission of serving Main Street America,” Chairman Alford said in opening remarks. The hearing drew testimony from three outside witnesses and sustained questioning from members about terminations of staff, reported data access by outside actors, Office relocations and the role of partner organizations such as Small Business Development Centers.

The hearing's central theme was whether the U.S. Small Business Administration should be refocused on traditional counseling, loan support and access-to-capital work, witnesses and members said. Theodore “Tedje” Gutierrez, state director of the Missouri Small Business Development Center, described the SBDC network as “a proud part of the nationwide Small…