DOJ Abandons Trump's $1.8B 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Amid Legal and Political Backlash

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee that the Department of Justice would permanently abandon the controversial $1.776 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund.' The fund, created through a May 18, 2026 settlement between Trump and the IRS, was intended to compensate alleged victims of government 'weaponization' under Biden. Critics across the political spectrum condemned it as a 'slush fund' for Trump loyalists and January 6 rioters. The reversal came after bipartisan resistance threatened key legislation and federal courts issued preliminary injunctions in response to lawsuits filed by retired federal judges and lawmakers. Blanche stated: 'we're not moving forward with the fund, period.' Legal experts had characterized the settlement as 'outright theft' from taxpayers. The fund faced multiple legal challenges questioning its constitutional validity and the propriety of using taxpayer money to reward political allies.

"we're not moving forward with the fund, period." — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee announcing the permanent abandonment of the Anti-Weaponization Fund