Forbes Staff.
Alison is a senior news reporter covering US politics and legal news.
Topline
A federal judge indefinitely blocked the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund from moving forward on Friday, multiple outlets report, as plaintiffs distrust the government’s claims that the fund is dead regardless—but the judge said she’ll lift her ruling if officials can actually swear under oath that they won’t try to revive the controversial plan.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Air Force One in New York City on June 9.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Judge Leonie Brinkema issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration from moving forward with its plans for a $1.776 fund designed to compensate people who feel the Justice Department has been “weaponized” against them, extending an earlier order she issued that only temporarily blocked the fund until there could be a lengthier ruling.
The fund was established as part of President Donald Trump’s settlement in his lawsuit against the IRS, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed the fund would not move forward—even if a court allowed it—after even Republican lawmakers strongly opposed the fund.
Plaintiffs suing the government over the fund have expressed concerns that the Justice Department will revive the fund if it’s no longer blocked in court, pointing to the fact that while Blanche has told lawmakers the fund is dead, he so far hasn’t put that in writing or rescinded the guidance that first established it.
Brinkema directed Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to submit a declaration by next week under penalty of perjury that states the fund is actually dead, multiple outlets report, and will ly lift the court ruling blocking the fund if they do.
The judge rejected the government’s verbal assurances that the fund wasn’t moving forward, Bloomberg reports, and said if officials don’t sign a sworn statement that the fund is dead, she’ll keep moving forward with the litigation and determine whether the fund should be declared unlawful.
The White House, DOJ and Treasury Department have not yet responded to requests for comment on the ruling.
What to Watch for
The case at issue Friday is one of several lawsuits challenging the $1.8 billion fund, which means a judge in a different case could block the fund even if Brinkema lifts her ruling next week. The president and his administration are also due to respond in court Friday to a request by former federal judges to reopen Trump’s initial lawsuit against the IRS. The judges argue the case should be reopened in light of concerns over the controversial settlement, and could result in Trump and the IRS potentially facing sanctions.
Is Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ Actually Dead?
Brinkema’s ruling comes one day after The Atlantic reported Trump administration officials are telling supporters behind the scenes that the plan for government payouts is still moving forward. While the Trump administration has publicly claimed the fund is dead, officials have reportedly said those who’ve felt aggrieved by the DOJ—including Jan. 6 rioters—are ly to still get compensated, whether that’s through trying to revive the fund in some form or a different method, having people sue the government and then be awarded settlements. The White House and DOJ have not confirmed The Atlantic’s reporting and directed Forbes to public statements and court filings the government has made on the issue, in which they have claimed the “anti-weaponization” fund is not moving forward.
Tangent
The lawsuit at issue Friday only concerns the $1.8 billion fund, which is one of two provisions in Trump’s settlement with the IRS. The other gives the president, his eldest sons and the Trump Organization—who were also plaintiffs in the lawsuit—broad legal immunity from IRS audits of their existing tax returns, and appears to shield them from prosecution and civil liability based on acts taken before the settlement was reached. Blanche has confirmed that part of the settlement is still in effect, and Brinkema’s ruling only addresses the “anti-weaponization” fund.
Key Background
Trump sued his own IRS for $10 billion in January, arguing the agency had violated his privacy when a contractor leaked details of his tax returns to the press. The case was controversially settled in May right as the judge overseeing it was weighing whether to throw it out entirely, as she expressed concerns that Trump and the IRS he oversees as president were not actually opposing parties. The settlement has garnered widespread scrutiny due to the timing and favorable terms for the president and his allies, with critics decrying the anti-weaponization fund as a “slush fund” designed to enrich Trump’s supporters. Blanche and the DOJ ultimately said the fund was dead on June 2 as it threatened to blow up Congress’ chances at passing funding for the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement activities, as Republican lawmakers threatened to back amendments that would have restricted or killed the fund.
Further Reading
Trump’s $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund Blocked In Court—At Least For Now (Forbes)
Applicants For Trump’s $1.8B Fund Include Proud Boys Leader, J6 Rioters And George Santos (Forbes)
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