Judge Blocks Justice Department Anti-Weaponization Fund
A federal district judge issued a temporary restraining order halting work on the $1.776 billion program. The Justice Department said it will comply while disagreeing with the ruling.
Jun 1, 8:07 PM(45 days ago)·10m read14 sources
Slush FundSafeguard
nationalpost.com
Audio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
A federal district judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Justice Department from proceeding with its Anti-Weaponization Fund. The department announced it will stop work on the program while it disagrees with the decision. A hearing is scheduled for June 12 to determine whether the pause should remain in place.
The temporary order prevents any money from being disbursed while legal challenges continue. The department created the fund in May to review claims from people who said they suffered from weaponization of government processes. The program was to be run by a five-member commission with authority to issue apologies and award money.
776 billion tied to the settlement of a separate lawsuit involving tax-return disclosures. The department said the fund was open to applicants from any political background who believed they were targeted or persecuted. Enrique Tarrio wrote on X that the department never said it was giving up the fund.
"Let’s be crystal clear: the DOJ never said it was giving up the fund. They simply stated they will abide by the judge’s order for now," Tarrio stated in June 2026. He also told PBS he believes the president will find another way to provide compensation even if the fund is blocked by courts or Congress.
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, said he plans to seek compensation from the fund, claiming his company lost $400 million due to government actions. Michael Cohen, a former Trump attorney, said he is preparing an application and described his case as a clear example of politically motivated prosecution.
Former Vice President Mike Pence called the fund a bad idea and urged the administration to drop it.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is not a big fan of the proposal and wants a full review. Enrique Tarrio is the former leader of the Proud Boys group.
---
[Nbc News] Acting AG Blanche says DOJ is not moving forward with 'anti-weaponization' fund Now Playing Acting AG Blanche says DOJ is not moving forward with 'anti-weaponization' fund 02:55 - UP NEXT Trump to drop controversial 'anti-weaponization' fund 02:21 Pam Bondi tells lawmakers during closed interview that 'redaction errors' were made in Epstein files 05:33Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration's 'anti-weaponization' fund 02:13Biden sues Justice Department to stop release of interview tapes 01:30Florida Rep.
Díaz-Balart says Castro indictment brings justice to 4 killed Cuban Americans 08:46Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says Castro indictment is 'big step forward' 08:07Jan. 6 officers sue over Justice Department's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund 03:57Mother of victim says Raúl Castro is 'not going to get away with it' 04:45Blanche faces questions over how Castro will stand trial in the U.S. 02:19How the Raúl Castro indictment compares to the case against Nicolás Maduro 05:10Justice Department indicts former Cuban leader Raúl Castro 05:34'Anybody can apply': Blanche pressed over who can get compensation from DOJ fund 01:15Blanche makes opening statement during Senate budget hearing 06:12Justice Department sets up 'anti-weaponization fund' after Trump drops IRS lawsuit 02:30James Comey makes initial appearance in federal court 02:06DOJ announces indictment of former FBI Director James Comey on two counts 00:50James Comey indicted over seashell photo that officials say threatened Trump 03:03Blanche gives timeline of suspect's movements ahead of correspondents' dinner shooting 01:18Blanche: 'Law enforcement did not fail' at correspondents' dinner 01:38 - Now Playing Acting AG Blanche says DOJ is not moving forward with 'anti-weaponization' fund 02:55 - UP NEXT Trump to drop controversial 'anti-weaponization' fund 02:21 Pam Bondi tells lawmakers during closed interview that 'redaction errors' were made in Epstein files 05:33Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration's 'anti-weaponization' fund 02:13Biden sues Justice Department to stop release of interview tapes 01:30Florida Rep.
---
[Npr] The DOJ won't move ahead with anti-weaponization fund, acting AG Todd Blanche says The DOJ won't move ahead with anti-weaponization fund, acting AG Todd Blanche says The DOJ won't move ahead with anti-weaponization fund, acting AG Todd Blanche says Audio will be available later today.
The Justice Department is no longer moving ahead with its $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. It was a tumultuous couple weeks for a controversial idea that was championed by some MAGA supporters.
---
[Usa Today] Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund won't move forward, Justice Department says Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund won't move forward, Justice Department says Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a congressional hearing June 2 that the Justice Department will not move forward with President Donald Trump's "anti-weaponization fund," which could have paid people convicted of assaulting police during the Jan.
6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The DOJ said in a statement June 1 that it would abide by a court ruling that put a temporary pause on the fund, ahead of a June 12 hearing. However, it didn't respond to follow-up questions ahead of Blanche's testimony on whether it was permanently giving up on the $1.776 billion effort.
The fund sparked widespread anger and a standoff between the White House and Congress, as Senate Republicans refused to move forward in recent days with an immigration enforcement spending bill until the fund was limited or scrapped. After the June 1 DOJ statement on the temporary halt to the fund, some Republican senators said they wanted a clearer statement that the Trump administration was done pursuing it.
"We are not moving forward with the fund, period," Blanche said at the hearing. Rep. Grace Meng, D–New York, told Blanche she hopes to see a written statement from the DOJ that it won't proceed with the fund, even after the June 12 hearing. "I mean, I think there'll be a transcript of what I say here, so that will be in writing," Blanche said.
The acting AG nonetheless held open the possibility that the DOJ will fight against legal challenges that have been filed in court against the fund. "Notwithstanding what we do in those litigations, and defending our rights, or making sure our rights are protected, we're not moving forward with the fund," he said.
---
[Cnn] Justice Department is not moving forward on the ‘anti-weaponization’ fund, Blanche says Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the Justice Department has fully abandoned the proposed “anti-weaponization” fund .
---
” “We’re not moving forward with the fund,” Blanche said during a House Appropriations Committee hearing. Recommended Stories Blanche’s confirmation that the DOJ is abandoning plans entirely comes one day after the agency put out a statement saying it would abide by a judge’s order halting the creation of the fund.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
---
"We are not moving forward with the fund. Period," he told lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee. " Democratic Rep. Grace Meng of New York asked. "Correct," Blanche responded. Meng asked whether Blanche would put that promise in writing. The fund faced intense pushback from Republicans on Capitol Hill, who warned that it threatened to imperil the GOP agenda.
Whether Blanche's testimony proves definitive enough to win over GOP detractors remains to be seen. The fund aimed to provide taxpayer-funded payouts to individuals who alleged the federal government had been "weaponized" against them. But Republican opposition to the plan led GOP leaders to scrap a vote on the DHS funding late last month.
Democrats threatened to force votes on amendments on the fund, putting Republicans in a difficult position. And with some GOP members likely to join Democrats, GOP leaders opted to abandon their plans and leave town for a weeklong recess. "I had a conversation with him a couple hours ago, in which he kind of previewed what he was going to say," Thune said.
"But Thune added, "I'm not guaranteeing that happens yet," saying conversations continue with GOP members. "Everything dumbs down to a function of math — it's, do we have the votes? " he said. Senate Republicans leaving the lunch meeting indicated that they would be looking to Blanche's testimony for assurances, like Sen.
"But Sen.
---
[Deadline] Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund “Not moving Forward,” Acting Attorney General Says A $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” set up as part of a settlement of Donald Trump‘s lawsuit against the IRS, appears to be dead, as lawmakers of both parties criticized the idea and the prospect of payouts to those who participated in the January 6 siege of the Capitol.
” “The reason for the fund, which is something Donald Trump talked about for a long time, which is that there are a lot of people in this country who have the government weaponized against them, the reasons remained as important as they were before, but we are not moving forward with the fund,” Blanche said.
The fund was announced last month as part of a settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. But the fund quickly became a political liability, as Vice President JD Vance and others would not commit that none of the dollars would not go to January 6th defendants who assaulted police officers.
Democrats took to calling the fund Trump’s slush fund, as the administration would ultimately control the decision-making on disbursements. Watch on Deadline Republicans saw the fund as an impediment to their efforts to pass a bill for immigration and border security.
The Senate is trying to pass the bill that is using a legislative reconciliation process, allowing for a simple majority but also giving Democrats the chance to offer up amendments. They were likely to put GOP members on record in supporting or opposing the anti-weaponization fund.
Last week, a federal judge overseeing Trump’s lawsuit put a pause on its implementation at least until a June 12 court hearing. Blanche defended the fund in a meeting with the GOP Senate caucus last month, but faced a backlash from members.
---
[pbs.org] WATCH: Trump administration 'not moving forward' with anti-weaponization fund, Blanche testifies “We're not moving forward with the fund,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said during a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee.
---
[@politico] The Trump administration will drop its $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that was widely cri... The Trump administration will drop its $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that was widely criticized as a payout for the president’s allies, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “We’re not moving forward with the fund, period,” said Blanche.
[Fox News] Acting AG Blanche reveals fate of Trump's 'anti-weaponization fund' under pressure from House lawmakers Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers the Justice Department will not move forward with its proposed anti-weaponization fund, saying the effort is over despite ongoing litigation and questions about its future after June 12.
---
[Forbes] Trump’s $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund Is Dead, Blanche Says “We’re not moving forward with the fund, period,” Blanche told the House Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday.
President Trump delivered a 26-minute address from the White House East Room on July 16, 2026, alleging vulnerabilities to foreign hacking and calling for the SAVE America Act. Democrats rejected the claims as baseless while some Republicans backed the legislation push.
The Trump administration stated that states must implement election security measures including secure voting machines and cleaned voter rolls or lose federal funding. President Donald Trump delivered a White House address announcing declassification of related intelligence repor…
nationalpost.com