Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

49% Oppose DOJ $1.8B “Slush Fund,” Vote Scrapped

5/28/2026

30 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Opposition to the Justice Department’s $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund, created on May 18 as part of a settlement ending U.S. President Donald Trump’s $10 billion IRS lawsuit, forced Senate leaders to scrap a vote on immigration-enforcement funding.
Sen. Thom Tillis, Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Ted Cruz called the fund a “slush fund” rewarding Jan. 6 defendants.
A poll of 1,520 U.S. adults found 49% oppose the fund.

History

Historical Context

In February 2009 President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to counter the Great Recession. GAO later reported that 12 % of those funds faced audit delays, prompting senators such as Harry Reid to demand tighter oversight. Today Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz criticize a new $1.776 billion Justice Department anti-weaponization allocation as a repeat of those oversight worries.

1 of 2

Story summary

Opposition to the Justice Department’s $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund, created on May 18 as part of a settlement ending U.S. President Donald Trump’s $10 billion IRS lawsuit, forced Senate leaders to scrap a vote on immigration-enforcement funding.
Sen. Thom Tillis, Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Ted Cruz called the fund a “slush fund” rewarding Jan. 6 defendants.
A poll of 1,520 U.S. adults found 49% oppose the fund.

1 / 2