Story perspectives

Judge Blocks $1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund; Trump Reconsiders

6/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

Judge Leonie Brinkema issued a temporary restraining order halting any disbursement from the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
President Donald Trump is reconsidering the fund.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the fund is legal and that the Treasury will transfer $1.776 billion to a special account.
Former prosecutor Andrew Floyd and other plaintiffs have filed at least four lawsuits claiming the fund is unconstitutional.
Judge Leonie Brinkema set a hearing for June 12.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act on Oct 3 2008, creating a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and President George W. Bush signed into law. Decades later, Judge Leonie Brinkema blocked a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, while President Donald Trump and Acting AG Todd Blanche argue its constitutionality, echoing past challenges to large-scale emergency spending.

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Story summary

Judge Leonie Brinkema issued a temporary restraining order halting any disbursement from the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
President Donald Trump is reconsidering the fund.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the fund is legal and that the Treasury will transfer $1.776 billion to a special account.
Former prosecutor Andrew Floyd and other plaintiffs have filed at least four lawsuits claiming the fund is unconstitutional.
Judge Leonie Brinkema set a hearing for June 12.

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