Trump administration reportedly dropping $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund
6 reported2 unconfirmed
According to a Monday Axios report cited by Vox, the Trump administration planned to drop its "anti-weaponization" fund, nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money set aside for Trump to distribute without supervision. The fund faced legal challenges and growing Republican backlash. It was created from a settlement between Trump and his own government over a $10 billion lawsuit Trump had brought against the IRS. A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked the fund from disbursing money or taking actions until at least late next week, while another judge in Florida ordered Trump's personal lawyers to justify the settlement. The fund's exact status remains unclear, as one source told Axios that "The president likes the fund… So nothing is final until it’s final." The fund had become toxic with some Republican senators whose votes Trump needs for a reconciliation bill, delaying votes originally planned for last month.
What’s reported
The Trump administration planned to drop its "anti-weaponization" fund, nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money.
The fund was announced in mid-May as a product of a settlement between Trump and his own government over a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS.
A federal district judge in Virginia temporarily blocked the fund from disbursing money or taking actions until at least late next week.
Another judge in Florida ordered Trump's personal lawyers to justify the settlement, raising the possibility it could have been fraudulent.
The fund had become toxic with some Republican senators whose votes Trump needs for a reconciliation bill, delaying votes originally planned for last month.
Punchbowl News's Jake Sherman noted the reconciliation bill could include language explicitly blocking the fund.
Open questions
The exact status of the fund as of the time of writing.
Whether the fund will be permanently dropped or revived.
Key figures
Donald Trump, president
Jake Sherman, Punchbowl News reporter
Unnamed source who spoke to Axios
Sources: vox.com
