Shutdown May Dampen Political Fundraising Despite Busy Calendar

Sept. 30, 2025, 9:30 AM UTC

A reminder of a fundraiser for Rep. Rob Wittman in downtown Washington on Tuesday at the Capital Grille steakhouse came with a recent addendum in red font: “Still On!!”

The Virginia Republican planned to carry on with his political event at a popular venue for lobbyist donors. But hundreds of such events scheduled for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle starting the next day may get the axe, or lose their featured guests, if there’s a government shutdown.

The optics of raising money during a shutdown are usually enough to force cancellations or changes to the biggest Washington and ...

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