Small Business Owners Report Economic Strain Under Trump-GOP Policies

Gabe Hagen, founder of the Tempe-based Brick Road Community Corporation, represents the growing anxiety among the nation's independent employers. After exhausting his 401(k) and home equity to sustain his staff, Hagen notes that price hikes have failed to offset stagnant sales. He is one of over 1,000 respondents in a report by Small Business for America's Future, which found that 77% of owners have observed customers cutting back on spending.

The Impact of Federal Policy

The survey highlights a deep divide between Main Street and Washington. Walt Rowen, co-chair of the coalition and president of Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Glass Co., reports that his heating oil costs have surged to $6,000 monthly, with further spikes anticipated. Owners point to a confluence of factors, including the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies—which hiked premiums for 90% of those surveyed—and aggressive tariff policies that have disrupted supply chains. Furthermore, 61% of respondents believe current immigration enforcement measures have damaged the small business economy, while 72% report that operating their companies has become significantly more difficult compared to last year. With two-thirds of owners canceling planned investments and over half stalling hiring, the data paints a picture of widespread retrenchment ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.