US judge extends block on Trump’s $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund | Courts News
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s $1.8 Billion “Anti-Weaponisation” Fund
By [Staff Writer]
Published June 12, 2026
A federal judge has placed an indefinite hold on the Trump administration’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund, designed to compensate individuals who claim to have been victimized by politically motivated legal actions.
The ruling, issued by Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, follows significant backlash from lawmakers and a series of lawsuits. Brinkema had previously issued a temporary halt to the fund, which was set to expire on Friday.
The fund originated from a settlement between former President Donald Trump and the Justice Department, resolving a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the Internal Revenue Service. The Justice Department proposed creating a $1.776 billion fund, to be overseen by a five-member commission responsible for identifying victims of “weaponisation,” a term used by Trump to describe investigations and legal proceedings targeting him and his associates.
Amid growing criticism, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced earlier this month that the administration would retract its plans for the fund. Government attorneys have suggested that ongoing lawsuits challenging the initiative are now moot.
Prior to the administration’s withdrawal, the five-member commission to determine payout criteria had not been established, and no claims had been accepted or payments made.
Opposition has emerged from several of Trump’s Republican allies, particularly concerning the compensation of individuals who participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. In May, Blanche indicated that individuals engaged in violence during the riots could still apply for fund payments, although he was not specific on eligibility criteria.
Trump granted mass pardons to many Capitol rioters on his first day back in office last year. More than 1,500 individuals faced charges related to the January 6 events before Trump issued his comprehensive clemency.
Critics of the fund have voiced concerns that it would divert taxpayer dollars into what they described as a slush fund. They remain skeptical of Blanche’s assurances regarding the fund’s cancellation.
While the Justice Department aims to distance itself from the initiative, Trump has not publicly supported its termination, continuing to express positive sentiments about the fund in press statements.
