Trump Administration Scraps $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund After Court Orders Briefs

The Trump administration will scrap its nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, as GOP pushback in Congress and a lingering court battle continued over the arrangement.

The Hill reported that a federal judge in Florida on Friday reopened Trump’s case against the IRS, whose settlement served as the basis for creating the $1.776 billion fund, and ordered President Trump and the Justice Department to file briefs.

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In Virginia, another federal judge on Friday also temporarily halted the fund from making any payouts, while the White House referred comment to the Justice Department, which said it “strongly disagreed” but would respect the decision.

The Hill said DOJ’s statement included that “under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with the Anti-Weaponization Fund recently established,” and it added the department would “abide by the Court’s ruling.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he hoped the administration would move to shut down the fund, saying, “I do think the best way to handle it is if the administration decides to shut it down themselves.”

In a “Dear Colleague” letter released Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would launch a coordinated effort to “kill the slush fund before one cent goes out the door.”

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NBC News said Schumer argued Republicans’ plans to use budget reconciliation again would allow Democrats to bring up unlimited amendments as the Senate considers the bill.

NBC News also reported that three Democratic senators—Adam Schiff of California, Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan—introduced the “Drain the Slush Fund Act,” which they said would “prevent taxpayer dollars” from being paid to Trump and his allies, including former Jan. 6 defendants.

A U.S. District Judge in Florida, Kathleen Williams, ordered Trump’s lawyers on Friday to respond by June 12 to a motion filed by 35 retired federal judges alleging the settlement “is a product of collusion and is itself a fraud on the court.”

Maryland Daily Record said Williams initially granted Trump’s dismissal of the lawsuit on May 18, but her new order said the “court is empowered to investigate serious misconduct.”

Separately, Maryland Daily Record said U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia temporarily blocked the Trump administration from setting up the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” and Brinkema’s order would remain in effect at least until June 12.

The Hill described the fund as created after Trump’s administration voluntarily dismissed the suit to sidestep judicial scrutiny, and it said the arrangement faced legal and ethical issues including the constitutional requirement that matters before the court be true controversies brought by opposing parties.