Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Justice Department is not moving forward with a nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund [1].
The decision marks a significant policy shift for the administration, as the fund was intended to overhaul how the Justice Department handles perceived political targeting. The abandonment of the project suggests a pivot in the administration's approach to systemic Justice Department reform.
Testifying before the House Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C., Blanche said to lawmakers that the department has abandoned its plans for the fund [2]. The shift follows a change in policy under the current administration [3].
"We are not moving forward with the fund. Period," Blanche said [4].
During the hearing, Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) questioned the Acting Attorney General about the decision. While Blanche confirmed the fund would not be established, he said he declined to put that commitment in writing [5]. This refusal to provide a written statement drew scrutiny from committee members regarding the transparency of the department's pivot.
Reports on the exact size of the proposed fund have varied slightly. Some sources cite the amount as $1.8 billion [1], while others have listed the figure as $1.776 billion [6].
Blanche's testimony on Tuesday highlighted the tension between the administration's verbal assurances and its willingness to formalize those changes for congressional record [2]. The House Appropriations Committee is tasked with overseeing federal spending, making the status of such a large fund a primary point of contention during the hearing.
“"We are not moving forward with the fund. Period."”
The decision to scrap the anti-weaponization fund indicates a departure from a high-profile campaign or early-administration priority. By refusing to commit the decision to writing, the Justice Department maintains a level of administrative flexibility, but risks fueling congressional suspicions regarding the stability of its policy shifts.
