Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department will not proceed with a $1.8 billion [1] "anti-weaponization" fund tied to former President Donald Trump.
The decision ends the prospect of a massive federal payout that critics described as a slush fund designed to reward political allies. The move comes amid intense scrutiny over the legality of using government resources to support individuals involved in political unrest.
Blanche said this on June 1, 2026 [2], during a U.S. House Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. [3]. The fund was intended to provide financial support under the guise of combating the weaponization of government, but it faced immediate pushback from lawmakers in both parties.
Legislators expressed specific concern that the money could be used for payouts to participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack [4]. This bipartisan criticism created significant political pressure on the Justice Department to abandon the initiative before the funds were disbursed.
Legal hurdles also played a role in the decision. A recent court ruling temporarily halted the fund, creating a legal impasse for the department [4]. The ruling provided a judicial basis for the administration to pivot away from the program while the legality of its structure remained in question.
Blanche's testimony on June 1, 2026 [2], marks a definitive shift in the department's approach to the fund. While the initiative was closely linked to the priorities of former President Trump, the current leadership of the Justice Department has determined that moving forward is not viable.
“The Justice Department will not proceed with a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.”
The abandonment of the anti-weaponization fund represents a significant retreat from a controversial policy that sought to redefine federal legal spending. By halting the $1.8 billion disbursement, the Justice Department avoids a protracted legal battle over the Jan. 6 participants and signals a move toward stabilizing the department's relationship with a skeptical Congress.
