US judge extends block on Trump’s $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund
Key takeaways
- Justice Department had walked back controversial plan after meeting backlash from lawmakers and lawsuits.
- The ruling on Friday represents another setback for the scheme, which has faced heavy resistance from lawmakers and has been walked back by the Department of Justice previously.
- Judge Leonie Brinkema of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia had issued a temporary halt to the fund last week and issued a preliminary injunction as it was set to expire on Friday.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Justice Department had walked back controversial plan after meeting backlash from lawmakers and lawsuits.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Members of law enforcement clash with pro-Trump protesters, who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. [File: Ahmed Gaber/Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff, Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 12 Jun 202612 Jun 2026A federal judge in the United States has indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with plans for a $1.8bn “anti-weaponisation” fund, meant to offer payments to those who experienced alleged “lawfare” and “weaponisation” of the government.
The ruling on Friday represents another setback for the scheme, which has faced heavy resistance from lawmakers and has been walked back by the Department of Justice previously.