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The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Kelly Loeffler, a former senator from Georgia and a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, as the new administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Her confirmation marks a return to Washington for the businesswoman and political donor, who has been a key figure in Trump’s political orbit.
The Senate confirmed Loeffler in a 52-46 vote, securing her a role at the Cabinet-level agency tasked with supporting small businesses through loans, counseling, and federal contracting opportunities. As SBA chief, Loeffler will oversee key economic programs, including disaster relief loans that provide small businesses with working capital during economic downturns and crises.
Loeffler expressed gratitude for the confirmation, pledging to “champion America’s small businesses” and ensure that “entrepreneurs have the resources they need to thrive in today’s economy.”
Loeffler’s Political Evolution: From Moderate to Trump Loyalist
Loeffler’s return to the federal government comes after a brief but eventful tenure in the U.S. Senate. Appointed in 2019 by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to replace retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson, she initially positioned herself as a mainstream conservative. However, in an effort to ward off far-right challengers in the 2020 election, she swiftly aligned herself with Trump, once boasting she was “more conservative than Attila the Hun.”
In her unsuccessful bid to hold onto her Senate seat, Loeffler lost to Democrat Raphael Warnock in a high-profile runoff election in January 2021. That race, alongside the loss of fellow Georgia Republican David Perdue to Jon Ossoff, handed Democrats control of the Senate. The Georgia runoffs came amid Trump’s false claims of election fraud, which Loeffler echoed by calling for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s resignation after he certified Joe Biden’s victory in the state.
Since leaving the Senate, Loeffler has remained deeply involved in Republican politics, launching a conservative voter registration group and emerging as a top fundraiser for Trump’s 2024 campaign.
A Billionaire Businesswoman in Trump’s Cabinet
Loeffler’s confirmation adds another wealthy figure to Trump’s second-term Cabinet, reinforcing the administration’s business-friendly stance. A former executive in the financial sector, she previously co-owned the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and was the wealthiest member of the Senate during her tenure. Her husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, is the CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange.
Critics argue that Loeffler’s financial ties raise potential conflicts of interest, particularly given the SBA’s role in distributing billions of dollars in small business aid. However, Trump allies have praised her business experience, arguing that it makes her well-equipped to oversee the agency.
With her confirmation, Loeffler is expected to play a central role in shaping the administration’s economic policies for small businesses, particularly as Trump seeks to implement his deregulatory agenda and bolster pro-business policies ahead of the 2026 midterms.
