Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Justice Department will not move forward with the $1.8 billion [1] anti-weaponization compensation fund.
The cancellation marks a significant pivot for the administration following legal challenges and public backlash regarding the fund's purpose and implementation. The move signals a shift in how the Justice Department intends to handle claims of political weaponization within the federal government.
Blanche testified before the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., on June 2, 2026 [2]. During the hearing, he confirmed the department's decision to abandon the financial initiative. "We are not moving forward with the anti-weaponization fund," Blanche said.
He said that the Justice Department has decided not to pursue the $1.8 billion [1] compensation fund. The decision follows a period of instability for the initiative, including a temporary block by a federal judge that had previously stalled the issuance of payouts.
Beyond the fund, Blanche addressed calls for justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. He said the department is focusing on other priorities, which include the release of files related to the Epstein case.
Blanche said the department's current strategy emphasizes the transparency of these records over the previous compensation model. This shift comes as the administration faces continued pressure to provide accountability for victims of the late financier's crimes.
“"We are not moving forward with the anti-weaponization fund."”
The abandonment of the anti-weaponization fund suggests the administration is retreating from a highly contentious legal and political project that lacked a clear path to implementation. By pivoting toward the release of Epstein-related files, the Justice Department is attempting to redirect the narrative toward transparency and victim justice, potentially to mitigate the political fallout from the fund's collapse.
