US District Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s $1.8B ‘Weaponisation’ Fund

A US judge on Friday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from setting up a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate victims of what Trump has described as government “weaponisation”.

The order, issued by US District Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia, prevents the administration from taking any further steps to establish or operate the fund while the court considers additional legal arguments. It will remain in effect at least until June 12.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) had announced the creation of an “Anti-Weaponisation Fund” last week as part of an agreement linked to Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax records.

The plan involved a $1.776 billion fund overseen by a five-member commission tasked with distributing payments to individuals who claim they were victims of “lawfare” and political “weaponisation” — terms used by Trump and his allies to describe investigations and criminal proceedings against them.

Friday’s ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group alleging it had been targeted “by the Trump-Vance administration as ideological or political opponents” and would be excluded from receiving payouts.

“This is a victory for transparency, the rule of law, and the American people,” said Skye Perryman, head of Democracy Forward, the organisation that brought the case. “No administration has the authority to spend public money through a political rewards programme.”

A DOJ spokesperson said the department remained “extremely confident” in the legality of the fund. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said there are no partisan requirements for eligibility.

“We will not allow the policy preferences of judges to interfere with our efforts to provide restitution to victims of lawfare,” the spokesperson said.

The fund has drawn criticism, including from some Republicans, who expressed concern that individuals involved in the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot could receive taxpayer-funded payouts. Critics have described it as a “slush fund” that could reward political allies.

Democracy Forward’s lawsuit is one of at least three legal challenges to the fund’s creation.

Judge Brinkema said the temporary order was necessary to maintain the status quo and prevent funds from being “irreversibly disbursed” before she rules on the request for a restraining order.

The group bringing the case includes a former DOJ prosecutor who prosecuted 6 January rioters and a California professor who was arrested during an immigration raid protest.

The decision followed arguments that government lawyers had indicated no money had yet been transferred, but declined to give more than 24 hours’ notice before any transfer — a timeline the plaintiffs said was insufficient and risked the fund becoming operational before judicial review.

The DOJ has not named the five commissioners who are to be appointed by Blanche. It has said it intends to begin transferring money into the fund within 60 days of its announcement on May 18.

 

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