Trump’s $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund Triggers Republican Pushback

In May 2026, President Donald Trump settled his $10 billion IRS lawsuit by directing the Department of Justice to allocate $1.776 billion of Treasury funds to an “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order establishing a five-member board that the president can remove at any time.

Reason

The case originated from contractor Charles Littlejohn’s leak of Trump’s tax returns, which Trump framed as “lawfare and weaponization.” A February 2025 executive order barred government lawyers from advancing legal interpretations contrary to the president, and a 2024 DOJ policy prohibits settlements that pay non-parties without congressional appropriation.

Reason

Acting AG Todd Blanche said the fund will create a systematic process for hearing and addressing claims, and that unclaimed money will revert to the government. The settlement requires the IRS to issue an apology to Trump and bars prosecution. The DOJ asserts there are no partisan requirements for filing a claim, noting board is presidentially controlled.

Reason

Sen. Ted Cruz said senators expressed anger. Sen. Thom Tillis described compensating police assailants as unreasonable. Sen. Mitch McConnell called arrangement a slush fund for individuals who assault police, calling it completely unreasonable and morally wrong. Cato scholar David Post said the $10 billion claim had no merit, and Reason writer Eric Boehm warned the fund is a slush fund financed by taxpayers that could reward Capitol-riot participants.

Reason

The settlement claims the fund will redress “lawfare and weaponization,” yet the DOJ notes the board is appointed by the attorney general and removable by the president, raising partisan concerns. The agreement says there are no partisan requirements for filing a claim, but critics note the board can be dissolved “without cause” and will stop processing claims before Trump leaves office. Unlike Keepseagle, which underwent judicial review, Trump’s settlement lacked court approval, and no independent audit has been announced.

Reason

• "They were pissed." — Ted Cruz, Senator (R–TX)

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• "I am helping others, who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt, and weaponized Biden Administration, receive, at long last, JUSTICE!" — Donald Trump, President

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• "A slush fund to pay people who assault cops" was "utterly stupid" and "morally wrong." — Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader (R–KY)

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• "This claim is nonsensical and worthless." — David Post, Cato Institute scholar

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• "The fund provides a systematic process to hear and redress claims." — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

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The five-member board will be appointed within weeks, and members can be removed before the presidential term ends. Congressional committees plan hearings on the fund’s legality and oversight. Legal scholars anticipate challenges under the DOJ policy against non-party settlements, and the DOJ has not set a timeline for an independent audit.

Reason