If your business has a federal loan (like an SBA, USDA, or other government-backed loan), a government shutdown raises real questions: Will my loan payment still be due? Will a loan I applied for be approved? Can I get help from the agency? The short answers are: keep making payments, expect delays on approvals and some services, and talk to your lender or servicer right away so you’re not surprised.
As the government shutdown nears the record breaking 35-day mark set in 2018–2019, it’s worth revisiting what must happen for the impasse to end. Congress must approve funding before the government reopens. While leaders negotiate, some services keep running and others slow or stop. No one can give an exact date for when a shutdown will end. But we do know what needs to happen for normal work to resume and how the pause affects everyday people and small businesses.
Getting caught in a Ponzi scheme can be a tough experience, especially when investments you trusted suddenly disappear. But there’s hope: the IRS offers specific tax relief options for victims of fraud. If you’ve been affected, you might qualify for a theft loss deduction, which can ease your tax burden and help you start rebuilding with confidence.