The Trump administration's controversial fund to compensate people who accuse the government of political persecution hit a legal wall Friday when a federal judge issued an order halting all activity related to the program as court challenges against it move forward.
The written order from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema forbids the Department of Justice from "taking any further action pursuant to the creation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which includes the transferring of money to the Fund; the consideration of any claims submitted to the Fund; and the disbursing of any funds from the Fund." Brinkema scheduled a June 12 hearing to weigh whether the block should be extended, according to CNBC, and gave DOJ lawyers until June 5 to submit their arguments against it.
The Justice Department announced the fund earlier this month as part of a settlement of President Donald Trump's civil lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax records by a former government contractor. Under the settlement terms, Trump and his co-plaintiffs — Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization — will receive a formal apology but no monetary payment, and will also drop their lawsuit and two administrative claims. But a later detail also revealed sweeping immunity from tax audits for Trump, his family, and his companies.
The fund is supposed to receive $1.776 billion drawn from what's known as the judgment fund, a standing appropriation that allows the DOJ to settle cases against the government. A five-member board appointed by the attorney general, and who the president could fire at will, would determine payouts. The DOJ described the program's purpose as providing "a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare." It said any remaining funds upon the fund's closure would revert to the federal government. The fund is set to stop accepting claims no later than Dec. 1, 2028, shortly before Trump is set to leave office.
Democrats, government watchdogs, and some Republicans have criticized the fund as a vehicle for rewarding Trump allies — potentially including those who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The fund has also drawn growing scrutiny from Senate Republicans.