Federal Court Pauses Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund Amid Legal Battle

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 on Monday that it would comply with a federal court decision that halts the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund while legal proceedings continue.

The fund was intended for those claiming the federal government had been weaponized against them, a view promoted by some Trump supporters, particularly during the Biden administration. Democratic lawmakers criticized the fund as a “slush fund” for Trump supporters, and even some Republican lawmakers hesitated to endorse it.

A federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia blocked the establishment of the anti-weaponization fund following a lawsuit by Democracy Forward and others. The Justice Department expressed strong disagreement with the court’s decision, which stated the Department could not proceed with the fund. The Justice Department reiterated that the fund was available to anyone feeling unjustly targeted, regardless of political affiliation, but stated it would adhere to the court ruling.

The fund’s creation was part of a settlement between President Trump and his Justice Department stemming from a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS over his leaked tax returns. The judge is considering whether the pause should be permanent, with a hearing scheduled for June 12.

In another development, a judge in Florida who oversaw Trump’s original lawsuit against the IRS is also contemplating reopening the case. After the government announced a settlement and both parties agreed to drop the case, Judge Kathleen Williams of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida raised concerns about the legitimacy of the lawsuit, noting that President Trump was on both sides of the dispute. She expressed the need to evaluate whether the proceedings involved deception, labeling the court a “victim of a fraud.” Trump’s legal team has until June 12 to respond.