WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched a sweeping new effort to strip away federal regulations it says have driven up costs for small businesses, while simultaneously approving the first loans under a new credit program aimed at fueling a resurgence in American manufacturing.
The SBA announced December 15 that it has formed a Deregulation Strike Force dedicated to identifying and eliminating what it describes as excessive Biden-era regulations that have disproportionately burdened small businesses and consumers. Led by the SBA’s Office of Advocacy, the initiative will operate across federal agencies to target rules affecting industries including housing, healthcare, agriculture, energy, transportation, and construction.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said the initiative is designed to counter regulatory growth that she said contributed to elevated inflation and rising costs during the previous administration. She said the strike force will use the agency’s statutory authority to challenge and roll back regulations deemed costly, duplicative, or unnecessary for small business compliance.
The SBA cited estimates from the Committee to Unleash Prosperity indicating that regulations imposed during the Biden administration generated roughly $6 trillion in cumulative costs and added hundreds of hours of paperwork per job creator. The agency said those burdens intensified price pressures that peaked at four-decade highs in 2024.
Under federal law, the SBA is the only cabinet-level agency empowered to formally review and contest regulations that affect small businesses. The Office of Advocacy will solicit direct feedback from business owners while conducting a government-wide review of regulations issued over the past four years. The effort builds on actions the agency says have already eliminated nearly $100 billion in regulatory costs since President Donald Trump returned to office, contributing to total estimated savings approaching $200 billion.
Days later, on December 17, the SBA announced the approval of its first Manufacturers’ Access to Revolving Credit loans, marking the debut of the agency’s first loan program dedicated exclusively to manufacturers. The initial round delivered $3.5 million in working capital to four companies operating in manufacturing sectors classified under NAICS codes 31 through 33.
The new MARC loan program provides flexible revolving credit designed to meet a wide range of operational needs, from equipment purchases to inventory and payroll. Early approvals included a $1.5 million line of credit for a welding and fabrication business and a $250,000 facility for a porcelain enamel manufacturer. The loans were issued through community and regional banks.
Loeffler said the program is intended to support small manufacturers as domestic production expands amid a renewed focus on reshoring supply chains. She said the loans complement existing SBA 7(a) and 504 programs and can be paired with conventional financing.
The MARC initiative is part of the SBA’s broader Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, which includes waived loan fees for manufacturers in fiscal year 2026, expanded loan limits, workforce development efforts, and a new online portal designed to connect businesses with domestic suppliers.
Together, the deregulation push and new credit program signal an aggressive shift in federal small business policy, pairing regulatory rollback with targeted financial support as the administration presses its agenda to cut costs and accelerate domestic industrial growth.
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