Former Georgia US Senator Kelly Loeffler has been nominated by President-Elect Trump to be the new head of the SBA

December 9, 2024

Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher

Former Georgia US Senator Kelly Loeffler has been nominated by President-Elect Trump to be the new head of the Small Business Administration

Kelly was chosen by Governor Brian Kemp in 2020 to fill the seat of Senator Johnny Isakson, a great Main Street advocate who retired for health reasons and sadly passed away the following year. She lost her seat to Jon Ossoff in the Fall 2020 election.

Loeffler was previously the chief executive of Bakkt, a cryptocurrency trading platform, and a former co-owner of the Atlanta Dream WNBA team.

President-Elect Trump writes, “Small businesses are the backbone of our great economy. Kelly will bring her experience in business and Washington to reduce red tape and unleash opportunity for our small businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive. She will focus on ensuring that SBA is accountable to taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach.

“Kelly was a tremendous fighter in the US Senate during the first Trump Administration, including helping to pass the first-ever bill to protect women in sports. Prior to her tenure in the US Senate, Kelly built a 25-year career in financial services and technology. Along with her amazing husband, Jeff, she helped build a Fortune 500 company from 100 employees to over 10,000 as executive VP.” 

Regarding her nomination, Kelly posts, “As a fellow entrepreneur and business leader, I am deeply honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as SBA Administrator. Small businesses are huge for America. They’re the beating heart of our economy and the gateway to the American Dream. The America First Agenda will unleash a new era of growth and opportunity for job creators and innovators!”

Incoming Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, comments, “President Trump has made a wise choice by tapping former Senator Kelly Loeffler to lead the Small Business Administration. As a successful business owner, Kelly knows what it takes to innovate and create jobs that support American families, and I am confident that she will fight to get Washington bureaucrats off the backs of our nation’s small businesses. I look forward to a swift confirmation process so that we can work together to cut the red tape, restore the American Dream for entrepreneurs, and bring accountability to a federal agency that has been reckless with taxpayer dollars.”

Among the bills Loeffler introduced was one in late 2020 to provide economic assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. This bill would designate specified amounts for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and establish a Small Business and Domestic Production Recovery Investment Facility. It would also have extended the requirement that the SBA subsidize certain loan payments.

She also sponsored a bill that would transfer responsibility from the Veterans Administration to the SBA for verifying that a small business is owned and controlled by a veteran or service-disabled veteran to determine eligibility for certain procurement programs.