Story perspectives

35 Ex-Judges Push Reopen; Judge Pauses Trump $1.8B Fund

5/31/2026

Center

Williams Reopens Case

Thirty-five former federal judges asked U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams to reopen the case on President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization settlement.
Judge Williams ordered President Donald Trump’s lawyers to answer questions about the $10 billion IRS lawsuit settlement that created $1.8 billion fund.
The lawsuit filed after two-year statute of limitations expired got no response, breaching DOJ rules.
Judge placed two-week pause on fund as police and former Justice Department prosecutors block it.

Left

DOJ Offers Bonuses

The Justice Department offers $25,000 signing bonuses and lowered hiring standards to recruit lawyers, to compete with private sector offers.
Over 10,000 federal attorneys have left since President Donald Trump took office, leaving agencies understaffed across multiple federal agencies.
The Department of Education lost over half its pre-Trump lawyers, and hindered policy implementation.
Homeland Security added staff to handle a surge in immigration litigation, to meet case loads.

Blindspot

Left coverage emphasized the departure of over 10,000 federal attorneys and resulting staffing shortages across agencies, an angle not addressed in the Center summary.
Left coverage also highlighted the Justice Department’s $25,000 signing bonuses and lowered hiring standards to attract new lawyers, which the Center summary omitted.

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Williams Reopens Case

Thirty-five former federal judges asked U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams to reopen the case on President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization settlement.
Judge Williams ordered President Donald Trump’s lawyers to answer questions about the $10 billion IRS lawsuit settlement that created $1.8 billion fund.
The lawsuit filed after two-year statute of limitations expired got no response, breaching DOJ rules.
Judge placed two-week pause on fund as police and former Justice Department prosecutors block it.

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