Trump Administration Recognizes Contributions of Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Highlights Their Role in the Defense Industrial Base
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) kicked off its 13th annual celebration of National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW), which is taking place Nov. 9–13, 2026. The annual event recognizes the veterans, service members, military spouses, and military families who continue their service by building businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening American communities. This year’s theme, “Honoring Veteran-Owned, American Made,” recognizes the veteran entrepreneurs whose discipline, ingenuity, and mission focus are helping rebuild American industry, strengthen supply chains, and grow the small businesses that power local economies.
More than 1.8 million veteran-owned small businesses in America employ four million workers, generate $1.3 trillion in annual sales, and $258 billion in payroll. 7% of the nation’s 632,000 small manufacturers are veteran-owned.
“As the daughter and granddaughter of veterans, it is an honor to celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week – SBA’s tribute to the 1.8 million veteran small business owners who continue to serve America through entrepreneurship,” said Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “Throughout the year, the Trump SBA is proud to offer veterans the resources to plan, start, and grow their small businesses – whether through SBA-backed lending, federal contracting certification, or extensive resources that offer hands-on training and mentorship. This year, we are especially excited to offer new support to the veteran business owners within the defense industrial base – as we work to expand the Arsenal of Freedom, onshore critical supply chains, and secure peace through strength.”
SBA serves veterans through its Office of Veterans Business Development, which works with an extensive resource partner network, including 51 Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) locations throughout the nation. In FY26, SBA approved over 2,800 loans for veteran-owned small businesses totaling $1.32 billion in federally backed capital. The agency also approved over 18,000 contracting certifications for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses. This year, during NVSBW, the SBA is announcing three major initiatives to empower military-connected founders:
- Doubling Agency Contracting Goals for Veterans: SBA is announcing new FY27 contracting goals that double the combined Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) prime contracting and subcontracting target for federal agencies from 5% to 10%, encouraging agency investment in veteran suppliers across the federal marketplace.
- VetsinTech Pilot to Empower Veterans in the Drone Supply Chain: The agency is launching a national pilot program with VetsinTech to deliver training, capital access support, and procurement pathways for veteran founders in the $10 billion drone and dual-use aerospace sector, leveraging a 120,000-member network to expand the defense industrial base.
- Capital Access Reform for Veteran Business Acquisitions: SBA is waiving equity rules under the 7(a) Loan Program for veteran business acquisitions, granting veteran buyers new flexibility to meet the 10% equity requirement through any capital source without being forced to drain personal savings.
The SBA, as part of a cosponsorship with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF), is kicking off NVSBW in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Nov. 9, at an event featuring Vice President JD Vance, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Throughout the week, the SBA and its resource partners will host in-person and virtual events nationwide to help aspiring and established veteran entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. NVSBW programming will highlight resources, tools, and training to help participants apply their strengths in problem-solving, teamwork, and strategic planning to opportunities in manufacturing, federal contracting, and business expansion. Official events can be found at sba.gov/nvsbw.