A federal judge in Virginia has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with a plan to create a roughly $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate people the government says were wrongfully targeted by federal agencies in the past.
In a brief order, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema barred the administration from taking any step tied to the creation or operation of the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund. The order covers transferring money into the fund, reviewing claims submitted to it, and paying out any money from it. Brinkema has set a June 12 hearing to decide whether to extend the pause into a longer-lasting stay. The challenge is being brought by a broad coalition of individuals and organizations who argue they would be ineligible to receive money from the fund.
A Settlement-Linked Fund Under Fire
The Justice Department announced the $1.8 billion compensation fund on Monday. It is part of a broader settlement connected to President Trump’s decision to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. That suit concerned the leak of his tax returns from 2019 and 2020 by a contractor.
Critics have raised two main concerns. First, Congress has not formally appropriated the $1.8 billion. Second, attorneys representing defendants charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot have publicly said they may seek payments from the fund on behalf of their clients.
Rules Committee Amendment Rejected
The dispute also surfaced in the House Rules Committee last week. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) proposed an amendment that would have prohibited anyone charged or convicted in connection with the Capitol riot from receiving compensation through the program.
McGovern tied his proposal to the No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act, H.R. 7711, which would bar the use of federal funds to compensate people prosecuted for their involvement in the attack. His motion also sought to require the attorney general to disclose any payments made by the fund, which he described as having been created by a “corrupt settlement agreement between Donald Trump and his own administration.”
“This secret slush fund should be an outrage to every American, no matter your politics.”
The Republican majority voted down the amendment shortly afterward. McGovern responded on social media, writing: “Republicans just voted AGAINST my amendment to stop Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund from bailing out the convicted felons who assaulted cops on January 6th. You read that right. They blocked us from even debating the issue on the House floor. Beyond shameful.”
Housing Bill Passes House by Wide Margin
In separate legislative action, the House on Wednesday passed the amended 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a 396-13 vote. The bill is aimed at expanding homeownership, lowering costs, and limiting institutional investors from buying up single-family homes. It now heads to the Senate and gives Republicans a potential cost-of-living win ahead of the midterm elections.
House leaders presented the measure as a direct response to a housing affordability squeeze affecting millions of Americans. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the stakes were clear.
“Increased housing costs and lack of quality supply are two issues that impact nearly every American family,” Johnson said.
