The Justice Department said Monday it will comply with a federal court order that temporarily blocks the Trump administration’s proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, a program that had sparked legal challenges and opposition from lawmakers in both parties.
In a post on X, the DOJ wrote: “The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund put forth by the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, wherein the Court stated that, under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with the Anti-Weaponization Fund recently established in order to make up for the tremendous abuse, harm, and hate unfairly shown to so many people. This Fund was open to anybody who was so weaponized, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise. The Department will abide by the Court’s ruling.”
The fund was created as part of a settlement resolving President Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the disclosure of his tax records. Under the agreement, Trump, members of his family and the Trump Organization dropped their claims in exchange for the establishment of a compensation program intended for people who said they had been improperly targeted by the federal government. The settlement did not provide direct monetary damages to Trump.
The program quickly became a source of controversy on Capitol Hill. Critics argued the fund could potentially benefit Trump allies and individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. During a closed-door briefing with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, numerous Republican senators openly revolted against the plan. Lawmakers expressed profound discomfort regarding the lack of independent oversight and the distinct possibility that taxpayer money could be distributed to individuals who participated in the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia issued a temporary order preventing the Justice Department from taking further steps to implement the fund, including transferring money, reviewing claims or making payments. The judge said the pause was necessary while the court considers legal challenges to the program and before any funds could be distributed. A hearing is scheduled for June 12.
The legal scrutiny extends beyond the Virginia case. A federal judge in Florida has ordered further review of the settlement after former federal judges raised concerns about the arrangement and questioned whether conflicts of interest may have affected the agreement. That court has directed Trump’s legal team to respond to those allegations later this month.
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