The Justice Department has put President Donald Trump’s controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund on hold as legal battles continue to unfold, but Trump may be abandoning the fund altogether.
The fund, created under a settlement following Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, had many lawmakers concerned over its taxpayer source and vague description of who qualifies. The “slush fund,” as many referred to it, could compensate those who feel they were victims of political persecution under Joe Biden’s administration.
On Monday, the Justice Department said it would comply with a Virginia federal court order temporarily blocking the fund after multiple lawsuits were filed, including from advocacy groups, legal organizations and two Capitol Police officers who argued it could help empower Jan. 6 participants.
However, the Justice Department said on X that it “disagrees strongly” with the court’s decision.
The fund has brought backlash from both Democrats and Republicans.
In his podcast, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) described the intense questioning between Senators and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche last week. Of the about 45 Senate Republicans who attended, he said “at least half of them were blasting the attorney general.”
Due to this intense backlash in addition to the Justice Department’s decision, a source close to the Trump administration say he is backing down from the fund entirely.
A hearing is still set for June 12 to weigh whether the fund will remain paused or not.
