Trump administration may drop $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund
8 reported2 unconfirmed
According to a Monday Axios report cited by Vox, the Trump administration planned to drop its nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund amid legal challenges and growing Republican backlash. The fund, announced in mid-May, was the product of a settlement between Trump and his own government over a $10 billion lawsuit Trump had brought 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, 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 has become toxic with some Republican senators whose votes Trump needs for a reconciliation bill, and the bill could include language explicitly blocking the fund.
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 Trump had brought 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 reached with the Justice Department.
One source told Axios: "The president likes the fund. … So nothing is final until it’s final."
The fund has become toxic with some Republican senators whose votes Trump needs to advance a second reconciliation bill.
Concern about the fund delayed votes originally planned for last month.
The reconciliation bill could include language explicitly blocking the fund.
Open questions
The exact status of the fund as of this writing.
Whether the fund will be permanently dropped or revived through other avenues.
Key figures
Donald Trump (president)
Jake Sherman (Punchbowl News reporter, mentioned as source of observation)
Sources: vox.com
