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Government Fund · Judicial Oversight · Legal Block · Trump Administration
A federal judge indefinitely extended a block on the Trump administration's $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," rejecting government assurances that the fund was abandoned, thereby maintaining legal uncertainty around the controversial program.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that the fund, created to settle President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over a tax return leak, will remain blocked until further court notice. This decision came despite acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's testimony to Congress that the government was scrapping the fund due to bipartisan backlash, and government attorneys' arguments that lawsuits challenging it were moot.
Plaintiffs, including Democracy Forward, Common Cause, the city of New Haven, and the National Abortion Federation, argued the fund illegally diverts taxpayer money into a "slush fund" for Trump's allies. Judge Brinkema gave parties one week to negotiate a sworn declaration from administration officials, including Blanche, confirming the fund's permanent abandonment.
President Trump has not publicly endorsed the fund's cancellation, continuing to express support for it. This contrasts with a separate D.C. judge, Richard Leon, who accepted Blanche's assurances and rejected a parallel blocking request.
The Justice Department had not yet formed the five-member commission to decide payout criteria, so no money was disbursed. The fund's potential eligibility for Capitol rioters, many of whom Trump pardoned, also drew criticism.
