Shutdown Puts $3.7 Million a Week at Risk for Wyoming’s Small Contractors

For more than 80 years, the U.S. government has made it a priority to ensure that small businesses receive a fair share of federal contracts. These contracts often serve as a reliable source of income for small business owners—until a government shutdown halts payments and operations.

When the government shuts down, that steady flow of opportunity stops cold. Payments freeze, projects stall, and small business owners, the very entrepreneurs who keep America running, are left footing the bill. While federal employees typically receive back pay once operations resume, small business contractors are not afforded the same relief, forcing them to absorb losses that threaten jobs and stability.

In 2024 alone, 65,500 small business contractors across all 50 states earned more than $155 billion through federal contracts. According to the U.S. Chamber’s analysis of Bloomberg Government data, the ongoing shutdown has put nearly $3 billion in payments at risk each week, adding up to $12 billion in lost opportunity in October alone.

WY It Matters: Here in Wyoming, 274 small business contractors are feeling the impact firsthand. Each week that the government remains closed, roughly $3.7 million in payments are at risk, totaling $16 million in lost revenue over the course of October. These are Wyoming businesses providing critical goods and services that support not only our federal partners but our local workforce and economy.

The Wyoming Chamber of Commerce stresses that small business contractors are essential to both national operations and local prosperity. Every week of shutdown represents millions of dollars that could be driving growth, supporting families, and strengthening Wyoming’s economy. The Chamber urges Congress to take immediate action to reopen and fund the government, and to stand with the small business owners who are the foundation of America’s economic strength.