The Justice Department announced Monday it will comply with a federal court ruling that temporarily halted the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund.” The department said it disagrees strongly with the decision but will abide by the order until a June 12 hearing.
US District Judge Leonie Brinkema blocked creation of the fund last week after legal challenges from multiple parties. The fund was established as part of a settlement agreement with Trump over leaked tax returns and was designed to compensate people who claim unfair treatment by previous federal administrations.
$1.8 billion in taxpayer funds allocated without disclosure requirements for recipients
The program has faced mounting political opposition from both parties. Democrats have criticized it as a “MAGA slush fund” with no oversight mechanisms, while Republicans express concerns about potential payouts to January 6 Capitol riot participants. The fund’s terms do not require disclosure of payment amounts or recipients.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested the White House should abandon the fund entirely. “I do think the best way to handle it is if the administration decides to shut [the fund] down themselves,” Thune told reporters.
The Justice Department defended the fund Monday, stating it was created “to make up for the tremendous abuse, harm, and hate unfairly shown to so many people” and was “open to anybody who was so weaponized, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise.”
Sources familiar with Trump’s thinking indicate the president may be reconsidering the program due to legal setbacks and bipartisan criticism.
What you can do now
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Contact your senators and demand they block any congressional appropriations for the fund. The June 12 hearing could determine its future. Find your senators at senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm.
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Call your House representative at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to support oversight legislation requiring disclosure of any government compensation funds. House Republicans have expressed concerns but haven’t acted.
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Submit public comments to the Justice Department demanding transparency in any settlement fund operations. Email [email protected] with “Anti-Weaponization Fund Transparency” in the subject line.
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Contact your state attorney general and urge them to join legal challenges to the fund. Twenty-two state AGs have previously sued the administration on related issues. Find yours at naag.org/find-my-ag/.
Primary Sources
BBC US & Canada: Trump Administration Will Abide by Ruling Halting Anti-Weaponisation Fund Guardian US Politics: Trump Reportedly Mulling Retreat From Anti-Weaponization Fund