Trump's $1.8B fund faces bipartisan pushback
What happened
- The Justice Department created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” on May 18, 2026, as part of settling Donald Trump’s IRS lawsuit. (justice.gov) - Rep. Tom Suozzi and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick introduced legislation to block payouts, arguing the fund bypasses Congress’s control over federal spending. (abcnews.com) - Brian Fitzpatrick asked Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for answers by June 1, 2026, on the fund’s legal basis and eligibility rules. (fitzpatrick.house.gov)
Why it matters
The Justice Department on May 18 created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a settlement in President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. The department said Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization would receive a formal apology but no money, and that the new fund would instead hear claims from other people who say they were victims of “weaponization and lawfare.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the process would allow claimants to seek apologies or monetary relief, with money drawn from the federal Judgment Fund. (abcnews.com) (justice.gov) The fund is set to stop processing claims by December 1, 2028. ### How did this fund get created? The May 18 Justice Department announcement tied the fund directly to the settlement of Trump’s case against the IRS and Treasury. (fitzpatrick.house.gov) DOJ said the plaintiffs agreed to drop the lawsuit with prejudice and withdraw two related administrative claims in exchange for the apology and the creation of the fund. The department said the fund would receive $1.776 billion from the Judgment Fund, a permanent appropriation used to pay certain settlements and judgments against the government. Todd Blanche said the fund would provide “a systematic process” to hear claims from people who say they were targeted for “improper and unlawful political, personal, or ideological reasons.” DOJ said there would be no partisan requirement for filing a claim, that the fund could issue both apologies and payments, and that any money left over would return to the federal government. (justice.gov) ### Why are members of Congress trying to stop it? Rep. Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, said they want Congress to block any disbursements. ABC News reported the two co-chairs of the House Problem Solvers Caucus introduced a bill to prevent the fund from making payments. Fitzpatrick said on ABC’s “This Week” that the issue was a statute that “basically bypasses Congress,” adding that federal money must come through the appropriations process. (justice.gov) Brian Fitzpatrick separately wrote to Blanche on May 20 seeking details on the fund’s legal basis, funding source, eligibility rules and oversight. In that letter, he said a “massive discretionary fund” created “with no oversight or approval from Congress” would be a step backward for transparency and stewardship of taxpayer money. (justice.gov) He asked whether people convicted of federal crimes or linked to violence could qualify for payouts. ### Who could try to claim money from it? The Justice Department has not published a full public list of eligible claimants, but news reports say January 6 defendants and other Trump allies have already positioned themselves to seek compensation. (abcnews.com) Spectrum News reported that several Jan. 6 rioters had already sued the government seeking money, while ABC News said the potential claimant pool could include people tied to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Todd Blanche addressed that issue during the backlash, according to ABC News. Asked about the possibility of Jan. 6 participants receiving payments, Blanche said, “People that hurt police get money all the time,” before adding that assaulting law enforcement was “abhorrent” and that eligibility to apply was different from whether a claim would be granted. (fitzpatrick.house.gov) ### Why are Trump critics also mobilizing against the fund? Former Capitol riot prosecutors, fired federal officials and journalists who say Trump targeted them have begun pressing their own claims and using them to challenge the premise of the fund, CNN reported. Some have sent letters to DOJ arguing that if the government is compensating victims of politicized enforcement, they should be considered alongside Trump allies. (ny1.com) A separate legal challenge was filed by two officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6. CBS News reported that former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges sued to block the fund, arguing it could reward rioters and others who attacked police. (abcnews.com) ### What happens next? June 1 is the first concrete deadline in the fight. Fitzpatrick asked Blanche to answer his questions by that date, while Suozzi and Fitzpatrick are pressing legislation that would stop the fund from distributing money. DOJ has said the fund will file quarterly reports to the attorney general identifying who received relief and in what form, and the claims process is scheduled to remain open until December 1, 2028. (yahoo.com) (fitzpatrick.house.gov) (cbsnews.com)
Key numbers
- The Justice Department created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” on May 18, 2026, as part of settling Donald Trump’s IRS lawsuit.
- (abcnews.com) Brian Fitzpatrick asked Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for answers by June 1, 2026, on the fund’s legal basis and eligibility rules.
- (fitzpatrick.house.gov) The Justice Department on May 18 created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a settlement in President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.
- (abcnews.com) (justice.gov) The fund is set to stop processing claims by December 1, 2028.
What happens next
- The Justice Department on May 18 created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a settlement in President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.
- (abcnews.com) (justice.gov) The fund is set to stop processing claims by December 1, 2028.
- The May 18 Justice Department announcement tied the fund directly to the settlement of Trump’s case against the IRS and Treasury.
Quick answers
What happened in Trump's $1.8B fund faces bipartisan pushback?
The Justice Department created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” on May 18, 2026, as part of settling Donald Trump’s IRS lawsuit. (justice.gov) Rep. Tom Suozzi and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick introduced legislation to block payouts, arguing the fund bypasses Congress’s control over federal spending. (abcnews.com) Brian Fitzpatrick asked Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for answers by June 1, 2026, on the fund’s legal basis and eligibility rules. (fitzpatrick.house.gov)
Why does Trump's $1.8B fund faces bipartisan pushback matter?
The Justice Department on May 18 created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a settlement in President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. The department said Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization would receive a formal apology but no money, and that the new fund would instead hear claims from other people who say they were victims of “weaponization and lawfare.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the process would allow claimants to seek apologies or monetary relief, with money drawn from the federal Judgment Fund. (abcnews.com) (justice.gov) The fund is set to stop processing claims by December 1, 2028. How did this fund get created? The May 18 Justice Department announcement tied the fund directly to the settlement of Trump’s case against the IRS and Treasury. (fitzpatrick.house.gov) DOJ said the plaintiffs agreed to drop the lawsuit with prejudice and withdraw two related administrative claims in exchange for the apology and the creation of the fund. The department said the fund would receive $1.776 billion from the Judgment Fund, a permanent appropriation used to pay certain settlements and judgments against the government. Todd Blanche said the fund would provide “a systematic process” to hear claims from people who say they were targeted for “improper and unlawful political, personal, or ideological reasons.” DOJ said there would be no partisan requirement for filing a claim, that the fund could issue both apologies and payments, and that any money left over would return to the federal government. (justice.gov) Why are members of Congress trying to stop it? Rep. Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, said they want Congress to block any disbursements. ABC News reported the two co-chairs of the House Problem Solvers Caucus introduced a bill to prevent the fund from making payments. Fitzpatrick said on ABC’s “This Week” that the issue was a statute that “basically bypasses Congress,” adding that federal money must come through the appropriations process. (justice.gov) Brian Fitzpatrick separately wrote to Blanche on May 20 seeking details on the fund’s legal basis, funding source, eligibility rules and oversight. In that letter, he said a “massive discretionary fund” created “with no oversight or approval from Congress” would be a step backward for transparency and stewardship of taxpayer money. (justice.gov) He asked whether people convicted of federal crimes or linked to violence could qualify for payouts. Who could try to claim money from it? The Justice Department has not published a full public list of eligible claimants, but news reports say January 6 defendants and other Trump allies have already positioned themselves to seek compensation. (abcnews.com) Spectrum News reported that several Jan. 6 rioters had already sued the government seeking money, while ABC News said the potential claimant pool could include people tied to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Todd Blanche addressed that issue during the backlash, according to ABC News. Asked about the possibility of Jan. 6 participants receiving payments, Blanche said, “People that hurt police get money all the time,” before adding that assaulting law enforcement was “abhorrent” and that eligibility to apply was different from whether a claim would be granted. (fitzpatrick.house.gov) Why are Trump critics also mobilizing against the fund? Former Capitol riot prosecutors, fired federal officials and journalists who say Trump targeted them have begun pressing their own claims and using them to challenge the premise of the fund, CNN reported. Some have sent letters to DOJ arguing that if the government is compensating victims of politicized enforcement, they should be considered alongside Trump allies. (ny1.com) A separate legal challenge was filed by two officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6. CBS News reported that former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges sued to block the fund, arguing it could reward rioters and others who attacked police. (abcnews.com) What happens next? June 1 is the first concrete deadline in the fight. Fitzpatrick asked Blanche to answer his questions by that date, while Suozzi and Fitzpatrick are pressing legislation that would stop the fund from distributing money. DOJ has said the fund will file quarterly reports to the attorney general identifying who received relief and in what form, and the claims process is scheduled to remain open until December 1, 2028. (yahoo.com) (fitzpatrick.house.gov) (cbsnews.com)
