U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler is urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to request an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Declaration to activate immediate federal aid for Los Angeles businesses impacted by recent riots. The request would unlock low-interest loans of up to $2 million for local small businesses affected by vandalism, looting, and property destruction during a wave of civil unrest.
“The migrant mob has looted stores, destroyed storefronts, and committed criminal acts of vandalism against our small businesses,” Loeffler said Tuesday. “Although local leaders are allowing Los Angeles to burn, federal partners are ready to help American citizens rebuild – and we will do so, as soon as the Governor answers their call for help.”
The SBA has provided all necessary documentation to the state to expedite the declaration process. Once approved by Newsom, the agency can begin disbursing critical financial relief to business owners who suffered losses in the chaos. The EIDL program offers long-term, low-interest loans designed to help cover repairs, operational disruptions, and recovery costs.
In response to growing safety concerns, Loeffler also confirmed that the SBA is relocating its Los Angeles Regional Office. The move comes after escalating violence near the downtown facility and the city’s refusal to coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). U.S. Marines have reportedly been deployed nearby to restore order.
This latest call to action follows weeks of unrest in Los Angeles, where violent protests escalated into widespread destruction. The SBA says it remains committed to assisting law-abiding business owners but cannot act until California formally requests support. The ball, Loeffler emphasized, is in the governor’s court.
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