Senate Democrats target $2 billion DOJ fund in reconciliation push

Senate Democrats announced plans this week to introduce multiple amendments aimed at eliminating a nearly $2 billion Department of Justice fund established through an IRS settlement last month. The fund, described by its backers as an "anti-weaponization" initiative, has drawn bipartisan criticism since its announcement.

Democrats say the money functions as a discretionary pool with insufficient restrictions on recipients.

It was unveiled days before the conclusion of budget reconciliation negotiations, prompting surprise among some lawmakers who said they lacked advance details. Republicans had been advancing a separate package that would allocate $72 billion over three and a half years for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations.

The fund became entangled in those talks when several GOP senators expressed reluctance to proceed without clearer eligibility rules.