U.S. Justice Department to Comply with Court Ruling on Anti-Weaponization Fund

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche testified during a Senate appropriations hearing on May 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The Justice Department announced its compliance with a federal court ruling that halts the implementation of the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund. This decision awaits further legal evaluation.

The fund, proposed by the Trump administration, aimed to aid those who claimed the federal government was used against them, a sentiment echoed by some Trump supporters during the Biden administration. Democratic lawmakers labeled it a ‘slush fund’ for Trump supporters, while some Republicans also hesitated to endorse it. A judge from the Eastern District of Virginia recently blocked the fund’s creation in response to a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward and others.

The Justice Department voiced its strong disagreement with the ruling issued by the Eastern District of Virginia’s judge. The department stated on X, “The Anti-Weaponization Fund was established to redress the significant abuse, harm, and persecution faced by individuals unfairly targeted, irrespective of their political affiliation.” Despite their dissatisfaction, the Department committed to respecting the court’s decision.

This fund emerged from a settlement between President Trump and his Justice Department, following Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS for the unauthorized release of his tax returns. The presiding judge intends to evaluate the case further on June 12.

Meanwhile, in Florida, another judge, Kathleen Williams of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, is contemplating reopening Trump’s initial lawsuit against the IRS. The settlement and the decision by both parties to dismiss the case have prompted Judge Williams to examine the legitimacy of the matter. Williams, appointed during the Obama administration, expressed concerns over the potential deception involved and indicated the court might have been a ‘victim of a fraud.’ She has given Trump’s legal team until June 12 to submit a response.