ATLANTA — President-elect Donald Trump is nominating Georgia's former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler to serve as administrator of the Small Business Administration. Trump shared the announcement Wednesday online.
"Small Businesses are the backbone of our Great Economy. Kelly will bring her experience in business and Washington to reduce red tape, and unleash opportunity for our Small Businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive," the post on Truth Social said. "She will focus on ensuring that SBA is accountable to Taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach."
The former senator is also a part of Trump's inauguration committee, where she is a co-chair.
Loeffler served as Georgia's senator after Johnny Isakson -- who faced health challenges -- stepped away from the position in 2019. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler, a businesswoman, to take on the job until a special election was held in 2020 to cover the rest of Isakson's term. Loeffler was one of the candidates in a crowded field that year, but the race ultimately went to a runoff in Jan. 2021, where Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock defeated her, flipping the seat blue.
As a teenager, 11Alive previously reported in 2019 that Loeffler’s online resume showed she worked on her family farm in Illinois and as a waitress in high school. After college, she got into the financial industry. Her career appeared to take off after she got a job at Intercontinental Exchange; she also married its CEO, Jeff Sprecher.
"Prior to her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Kelly built a 25-year career in financial services and technology," Trump said. "Along with her amazing husband, Jeff, she helped build a Fortune 500 company from 100 employees to over 10,000, as Executive VP."
Loeffler was a previous co-owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, which was sold in 2021. In 2020, she ran into controversy with the team when she voiced her strong opposition to the team and league's support of the Black Lives Matter movement, saying the move was an example of politics in sports and had no place in the league.