Kelly Loeffler Defends Trump Policies in SBA Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, President Donald Trump‘s nominee to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA), faced tough questions from lawmakers during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. The hearing, broadcast live on C-SPAN, highlighted Loeffler’s controversial ties to Trump and her stance on key policy issues.

Loeffler, a former CEO of cryptocurrency trading platform Bakkt and co-owner of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, defended her record and Trump’s policies under scrutiny from Democratic senators. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., questioned her about the legality of Trump’s recent freeze on federal grants and loans. “I fully agree with President Trump’s decision to stop wasteful spending,” Loeffler responded, sidestepping Markey’s inquiry about whether she would follow unlawful presidential orders.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, pressed Loeffler on her support for Trump’s blanket pardon of individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Loeffler, who co-sponsored a resolution honoring fallen Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, defended her stance, stating, “It’s time to get past political persecution in this country. That’s what Americans voted for.”

Loeffler also addressed her past support for unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election results, which she later reversed after the Jan. 6 attack. “As a senator, I voted to certify Joe Biden‘s win,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to upholding the rule of law.

The hearing underscored the deep political divisions surrounding Loeffler’s nomination, with Democrats questioning her alignment with Trump’s policies and Republicans praising her business acumen. If confirmed, Loeffler would oversee the SBA’s efforts to support small businesses across the nation, a role she described as “critical to rebuilding our economy.”