NEWS | House to Vote on Senate-Passed Shutdown Package, Relief in Sight for Small Business

Last week, NSBA released a survey of more than 400 small-business owners showing just how deeply the record-breaking government shutdown has hurt America’s small-business community; with the House returning today to vote on legislation to reopen federal operations, the spotlight falls on small-business owners scrambling to recover.

VETERANS DAY 2025 | After 43 days of the federal government being closed, fittingly culminating on a day designated for honoring the nation's servicemen and women - many of whom go on to be small-business owners upon a return to civilian life, the House will begin voting on a package combining a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through the end of January, a three-bill appropriations “minibus,” and protections to shield federal workers from layoffs.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) indicated he believes the bill has enough support to reach the President’s desk and push an end to the shutdown.

Acting after months of NSBA members urge Congress to choose compromise and act to end the shutdown, NSBA commends the choice to advance an option to exit the stalemate. According to an NSBA’s survey on the shutdown published last week, more than 70 percent of small-business owner respondents indicated they directly felt impacts from the shutdown.

RELATED | NSBA Shutdown Survey Shows Small Business Suffering from Shutdown

Among those small-business owner respondents doing business with the federal government, nearly two-thirds indicated they already experienced delayed payments from federal agencies, with another one-third reporting delayed payments as subcontractors.

Even small-business owners that do not contract directly with the government indicated they were feeling the pain, with 1 in 5 respondents' business facing decline due to the shutdown.

These numbers show how the federal shutdown stretches well past Washington, reverberating strongly down America's Main Street. Read the full survey here.

For small businesses, the delay of federal payments, paused contracting, and reduced downstream spending means decisions like layoffs, halted expansions, and missed client opportunities. Owners who were relying on procurement from federal agencies or prime contractors found themselves with cash-flow crunches and uncertainty about when the wheels would turn again.

While House votes on the spending package could mark the beginning of the end for the shutdown, the recovery for many small businesses may take longer. For instance, federal agencies will need time to resume operations, catch up on back-log, process grants/loans, and clear delayed payments, and small businesses may need assistance bridging the gap caused by weeks of interruption, whether through local supports, state programs, or federal relief.

Sending one simple message since the stalemate began 43 days ago, shutdowns harm small business. NSBA will continue pushing for mechanisms to minimize the risk of future shutdowns harming small business communities.

Actions from D.C. - including inaction during the government shutdown - will continue looming over Main Street, even after the government reopens.