Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday and confirmed the administration scrapped a $1.8 billion fund [1].

The decision to abandon the fund follows significant backlash from Republican senators, signaling a shift in how the Department of Justice manages its financial priorities under congressional scrutiny.

During the hearing in Washington, D.C., Blanche addressed lawmakers regarding the oversight of the Department of Justice. He said the administration is "not moving forward" [2] with the initiative. The fund, which had been described as a "weaponization" fund, totaled $1.8 billion [1].

Blanche said the Trump administration abandoned the president's nearly $1.8 billion "weaponization" fund [1]. The hearing served as a mechanism for congressional oversight to determine how the Justice Department intends to allocate its resources moving forward.

Lawmakers questioned Blanche on the specifics of the funding and the reasons for its sudden removal from the administration's plans. The proceedings focused on the transparency of Department of Justice spending, and the influence of legislative pushback on executive financial decisions.

Blanche provided testimony on June 2, 2026 [3], as part of the subcommittee's broader effort to monitor federal spending and agency conduct. The removal of the fund marks a notable reversal for the administration following the internal party friction that led to the decision.

“"not moving forward"”

The cancellation of the $1.8 billion fund suggests that legislative pressure from within the Republican party can effectively override the executive branch's specific financial goals. By scrapping the 'weaponization' fund, the administration is attempting to resolve a political liability while maintaining the appearance of cooperation with congressional oversight.