Trump Administration Will Comply With Court Ruling Stopping $1.8bn Anti‑Weaponisation Fund

By Nardine Saad | 11 hours ago

President Donald Trump waves at the White House

The United States Department of Justice announced that it will comply with a federal court ruling that has halted the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion fund, described by the administration as an “anti‑weaponisation” umbrella intended to compensate those who claim to have faced unfair treatment by previous governments.

In a statement issued on Monday, the DOJ said it “disagrees strongly with the decision” but is preparing to discontinue any steps to distribute the fund until further notice from the court.

The fund was set up last month as part of a settlement with former President Donald Trump over the release of his tax returns. Critics on both sides have angrily described it as a “slush fund,” and a federal judge issued a temporary injunction to suspend its creation pending hearings set for 12 June.

Activists who filed a lawsuit in Virginia claim that the fund would discriminate against plaintiffs who alleged political persecution by the Trump administration. Several Trump supporters who faced charges related to the 6 January 2021 riot have signalled intentions to file claims with the new programme.

Republican Senator John Thune and Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer have both urged that the fund be shut down, with Thune arguing that the White House should voluntarily close the programme in order to facilitate passage of a reconciliation budget, while Schumer’s party plans to pass legislation to permanently ban the fund.

Former Vice‑President Mike Pence criticised the scheme, calling it a “bad idea from the start” and urging its removal. The fund’s future remains in flux as the court’s injunction remains in place until the preliminary hearing on 12 June.

Read the BBC article on who is eligible for the anti‑weaponisation fund.