National

Donald Trump's $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund' Halted in Legal Blow

By Gabe Whisnant Newsweek
White House. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and President Donald Trump, speaks during a briefing at the White House shortly after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2026. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images)
White House. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and President Donald Trump, speaks during a briefing at the White House shortly after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2026. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) Francis Chung/POLITICO AP

A federal judge on Friday temporarily halted President Donald Trump's $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," siding with critics and GOP skeptics who argue the controversial program lacks legal footing and accountability.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, barred the administration from paying claims or moving forward with the fund's creation while lawsuits challenging it proceed, setting up a key test of the settlement tied to Trump's IRS case.

The ruling pauses a Justice Department plan to use $1.776 billion in taxpayer money to compensate individuals who claim they were victims of government "weaponization," a proposal that has drawn bipartisan scrutiny over who could qualify.

Brinkema scheduled a June 12 hearing to decide whether to extend the block, leaving the fund's future-and any potential payouts-uncertain as legal challenges from advocacy groups move forward.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and President Donald Trump, speaks during a briefing at the White House shortly after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2026. (AP Images)
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and President Donald Trump, speaks during a briefing at the White House shortly after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2026. (AP Images) Francis Chung/POLITICO AP

The fund has also sparked unusual pushback from within Trump's own party, with some Senate Republicans pressing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche behind closed doors for clarity on who would qualify for payouts and whether limits would be imposed on controversial applicants, including those tied to the January 6 attack. Critics have warned the program risks becoming a taxpayer-funded political reward system if guardrails are not clearly defined.

On Capitol Hill, concerns have extended to eligibility criteria and oversight, with some GOP lawmakers questioning how a five-member commission-appointed largely by the attorney general-would ensure transparency and prevent abuse.

The bipartisan unease underscores the broader political vulnerability of the fund, as legal challenges from advocacy groups and watchdog organizations coincide with pressure from Congress for answers-raising the prospect that even if the courts ultimately allow the program to proceed, its structure and scope could face further scrutiny or revision.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 10:19 AM.

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER