Judge Keeps Blocking Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund—Until DOJ Can Prove It’s Dead
Key takeaways
- The White House, DOJ and Treasury Department have not yet responded to requests for comment on the ruling.
- The case at issue Friday is one of several lawsuits challenging the $1.8 billion fund, which means a judge in a different case could block the fund even if Brinkema lifts her ruling next week.
- Brinkema’s ruling comes one day after The Atlantic reported Trump administration officials are telling supporters behind the scenes that the plan for government payouts is still moving forward.
Topline. A federal judge indefinitely blocked the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund from moving forward on Friday, multiple outlets report, as plaintiffs distrust the government’s claims that the fund is dead regardless—but the judge said she’ll lift her ruling if officials can actually swear under oath that they won’t try to revive the controversial plan.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Air Force One in New York City on June 9.AFP via Getty ImagesKey FactsJudge Leonie Brinkema issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration from moving forward with its plans for a $1.776 fund designed to compensate people who feel the Justice Department has been “weaponized” against them, extending an earlier order she issued that only temporarily blocked the fund until there could be a lengthier ruling.
The fund was established as part of President Donald Trump’s settlement in his lawsuit against the IRS, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed the fund would not move forward—even if a court allowed it—after even Republican lawmakers strongly opposed the fund.