DOGE Details Major Changes to Small Business Loans: What To Know

Newsweek - Mar 24th, 2025
Open on Newsweek

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has implemented new regulations for its loan programs following recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). These changes include requiring the applicant's date of birth and pausing direct loans for individuals under 18 and over 120 years of age. This move aims to curb fraudulent activities, highlighted by past incidents where loans were granted to individuals over 115 years old. Additionally, the SBA is set to reduce its workforce by 43%, affecting 2,700 jobs, as part of a strategic reorganization to improve efficiency and refocus on its core mission of supporting small businesses.

The context of these changes stems from a need to address fraudulent practices identified in the administration of loans, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). These programs were critical during the COVID-19 pandemic but reportedly fell victim to significant fraud. The SBA's restructuring also includes taking over federal student loan administration from the Department of Education. Despite the workforce reduction, the SBA assures that essential services like loan guarantees and disaster assistance will remain unaffected. These developments highlight the SBA's efforts to streamline operations and enhance oversight, ensuring that resources effectively support small businesses and mitigate financial mismanagement.

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RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and mostly accurate overview of recent changes in SBA loan policies and organizational restructuring. It effectively highlights the government's efforts to improve efficiency and prevent fraud, which are of significant public interest. However, the story lacks balance and source quality due to the absence of diverse perspectives and corroborating statements from independent experts. While the language and structure are clear, the article would benefit from greater transparency and context regarding the decision-making process and potential impacts of these changes. Overall, the story is informative but could be strengthened by addressing these areas for a more comprehensive and balanced analysis.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story provides a factual overview of changes in SBA loan policies and organizational restructuring. The claim about requiring applicants' dates of birth and restricting loans to those under 18 and over 120 is consistent with the reported changes. However, the assertion that loans were given to individuals over 115 years old, including a 157-year-old, requires verification due to its implausibility. The story's mention of the SBA's workforce reduction aligns with the agency's announcements, but specific details about the impact on services could be further corroborated. Overall, the article is mostly accurate but contains claims that necessitate further validation.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the changes implemented by the SBA and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with statements from both entities. However, it lacks perspectives from small businesses or financial experts who might be affected by these changes. The narrative is somewhat one-sided, emphasizing the government's efforts to curb fraud without exploring potential downsides or criticisms of the new policies. Including a broader range of viewpoints would provide a more balanced perspective on the implications of these changes.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow of information from the announcement of changes to the implications and responses from DOGE and the SBA. The language is straightforward, making it accessible to a general audience. However, the inclusion of complex claims, such as loans to centenarians, could be better explained or contextualized to avoid confusion.

5
Source quality

The article references DOGE's announcements and statements from the SBA, which are credible sources for the information presented. However, the lack of direct quotes or detailed attributions from these entities weakens the source quality. The story could benefit from corroborating statements from independent experts or stakeholders in the small business community to enhance its credibility and provide a more comprehensive view of the situation.

6
Transparency

The article clearly outlines the changes to SBA loan policies and workforce restructuring, but it lacks transparency regarding the methodology behind these decisions. There is no disclosure of potential conflicts of interest or the criteria used to determine the age limits for loan applicants. Providing more context about how these changes were decided and their expected impact would improve transparency and help readers understand the basis for these claims.

Sources

  1. https://www.crowell.com/en/insights/client-alerts/sba-issues-day-one-memo-with-a-particular-emphasis-on-rooting-out-fraud
  2. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doge-says-312m-loans-given-children-covid-pandemic
  3. https://www.sba.gov/article/2025/03/21/small-business-administration-announces-agency-wide-reorganization
  4. https://www.sba.gov/article/2025/02/24/sba-administrator-loeffler-issues-memo-day-one-priorities
  5. https://www.fastwaysba.com/blog/breaking-sba-news-the-sba-is-now-under-doge-inspection-what-does-this-mean-for-small-businesses