Barring an intervention from Congress, the U.S. Small Business Administration will puts its 7(a) loan-guarantee program on hold at the end of July.

The program—which is SBA’s most popular lending effort—has helped guarantee more than $16.5 billion in loans, perilously close to the cap of $18.75 billion for this fiscal year. The next fiscal year won’t start until Oct. 1.

“SBA recognizes that any lapse in the 7(a) loan program would impact thousands of entrepreneurs and businesses who rely on the program to overcome their inability to otherwise secure the credit necessary to start or expand their business,” according to a memo from Ann Marie Mehlum, the SBA’s associate administrator for capital access, to all SBA workers.

“SBA is working with Congress to avoid a suspension by raising the statutory loan cap, but there can be no assurance as to the timing or likelihood of a legislative solution.”

If small businesses and their lenders submit 7(a) loan requests during a program shutdown, those requests will be put on a waiting list for approval whenever the program resumes.

The potential 7(a) hold will not apply to the SBA’s 504 loan program, which hasn’t reached its cap.

SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet asked Congress in June to raise the 7(a) cap to $22 billion. There has been some movement among members of Congress, but that body is scheduled to go on break in August.