Business owners left out as lending program goes on hold

By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG and ANDREW TAYLOR AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The government's paycheck protection loan program for small businesses is on hold.

The Small Business Administration has announced that it reached the $349 billion lending limit for the program.

Thousands of small business owners whose loans have not yet been processed must now wait for Congress to approve a Trump administration request for another $250 billion for the program.

Lawmakers have been haggling over whether to extend the program as it stands now, or whether to add provisions that among other things would help minority businesses.

It's unclear when they might reach an agreement that would allow loan approvals to continue.