JUNE 2, 2026
DOJ pauses $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund following court order amid bipartisan Republican backlash
The Justice Department said it would comply with a Virginia court order temporarily blocking the Trump administration's nearly $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," effectively pausing the plan for at least two weeks. The fund was established as part of a settlement between Trump and the IRS over the leak of his tax returns, and is designed to compensate people who allege they were unjustly investigated or prosecuted by the federal government. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was scheduled to appear before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, where the fund was expected to dominate questioning.
The Justice Department announced Monday it would abide by a federal court order in Virginia temporarily halting the fund, and a separate judge in Florida raised the prospect of reopening the underlying IRS lawsuit over what the court described as "grievous allegations" of improper dealing made by settlement critics, according to the Associated Press.
President Trump was also reported to be reconsidering whether to move forward with the fund at all, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The fund would be administered by a five-member commission appointed by Blanche, who has said anyone who feels persecuted by the criminal justice system is eligible to apply. At a Senate budget hearing last month, Blanche declined to rule out the possibility that those who carried out violence on January 6, 2021, could receive payouts.
Republican opposition has been substantial. More than half of the GOP Senate conference raised concerns at a private meeting with Blanche last month, according to multiple sources. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas described the gathering as having "fireworks at an epic level," calling it "one of the roughest meetings I've seen in my entire time in the Senate." Cruz also said Blanche was privately "adamant" that no one who assaulted police at the Capitol would receive compensation, stating "not just 'no,' but 'hell no.'" The GOP backlash contributed to Senate Republicans leaving Washington without passing legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies, with many saying they would not advance the Homeland Security spending bill until the White House placed parameters on the fund.