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Rep. Subramanyam moves to aid small businesses during shutdown
The legislation would establish an emergency stimulus program run by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help small businesses weather the economic fallout of the shutdown.
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Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 01, Nov 2025
- 16:33 EDT
- 19
Virginia State Senator Suhas Subramanyam / Image- Wikipedia
Indian American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam introduced new legislation to provide financial relief for small businesses affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The legislation, titled the Keep Main Street Open Act, would establish an emergency stimulus program run by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help small businesses weather the economic fallout of the shutdown. The program would be available to eligible applicants immediately after enactment.
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“Northern Virginia’s economy is in jeopardy,” Subramanyam said in announcing the measure. “Zero-dollar paychecks for federal workers and contractors, the suspension of vital programs like SNAP, and the administration’s backwards economic policies have significantly reduced spending in our community. Small businesses across Northern Virginia are losing traffic and facing potential layoffs or even closures.”
He added that the proposed legislation would serve as “a lifeline during the shutdown” to prevent further damage to local economies. “Small businesses are a pillar of Northern Virginia and we need to rally behind them during this shutdown,” Subramanyam said.
Subramanyam, a first-term Democrat representing Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, has made small business protection a central focus during the shutdown, meeting with local business owners and urging swift federal action.
His proposal follows several measures he has introduced or supported to ease the strain on workers and contractors, including the Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act—which urges banks and credit unions to work flexibly with affected individuals—and the Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act, allowing contractors to withdraw retirement funds without penalty.
The new bill comes as the federal shutdown enters its second month, leaving tens of thousands of federal employees and contractors without pay and disrupting economic activity across the Washington metropolitan area.
Local economies that depend heavily on federal spending, such as Northern Virginia, have seen steep declines in consumer demand, forcing small businesses to reduce hours or consider layoffs.
Subramanyam, who has declined his congressional salary during the shutdown in solidarity with unpaid federal workers, said the legislation is designed to “keep local economies alive” until the government reopens.
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