SBA Encouraged Use of Template Language for Out-of-Office Messages During 2025 Shutdown

On September 30, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Chief Human Capital Office (CHCO) sent an email to all SBA employees encouraging them to use the following template language in their out-of-office messages during the 2025 government shutdown: "I am out of office for the foreseeable future because Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R. 5371), leading to a government shutdown that is preventing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from serving America’s 36 million small businesses. Every day that Senate Democrats continue oppose [sic] a clean funding bill, they are stopping an estimated 320 small businesses from accessing $170 million in SBA-guaranteed funding." In an October 3, 2025 letter, Senator Markey expressed concern that this email and related template language were apparent violations of the Hatch Act.