Trump administration reportedly dropping $1.8 billion fund
9 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 the president to distribute without supervision. The fund faced legal challenges and growing Republican backlash. It was created in mid-May as part of 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, raising the possibility it could have been fraudulent. 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.” Republican senators whose votes are needed for a second reconciliation bill have expressed concern, delaying votes originally planned for last month, and the bill could include language explicitly blocking the fund.
What’s reported
The Trump administration planned to drop its “anti-weaponization” fund, per an Axios report on Monday.
The fund was nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money set aside for Trump to distribute without supervision.
It faced legal challenges and growing Republican backlash.
The fund was created in mid-May as part of a settlement 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.
Another judge in Florida ordered Trump’s personal lawyers to justify the settlement, raising the possibility it could have been fraudulent.
One source told Axios: “The president likes the fund. … So nothing is final until it’s final.”
Republican senators whose votes are needed for a second reconciliation bill expressed concern, delaying 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 the time of the report.
Whether the fund will be permanently dropped or revived.
Key figures
Donald Trump, president
Jake Sherman, Punchbowl News reporter (mentioned as pointing out that the bill could include language blocking the fund)
Sources: vox.com
