House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Justice Department’s proposed anti-weaponization fund is effectively off the table after GOP lawmakers raised concerns and the department said it would comply with a court order blocking the plan.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that the Justice Department’s proposed anti-weaponization fund is unlikely to advance in Congress, confirming that the plan has effectively been set aside after resistance from lawmakers and a federal court order blocking its implementation.
Johnson told reporters the fund was likely “off the table,” citing the House GOP’s narrow majority and concerns among rank-and-file Republicans. He said he had discussed the issue with President Donald Trump and explained the difficulty of passing the proposal.
The $1.776 billion fund was announced as part of a settlement tied to Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns by contractor Charles Littlejohn, who pleaded guilty. The fund was intended to provide restitution to people who said they were victims of political weaponization under the Biden Justice Department.
The proposal drew objections from Republicans and Democrats, with some lawmakers warning it could be used to benefit Trump allies. The dispute also threatened to complicate passage of an immigration enforcement funding plan, including money for ICE and Border Patrol.
Trump met with Johnson on Monday to discuss the issue as lawmakers in both chambers raised concerns that the fund could derail the broader funding package. Reports later said Trump would abandon the plan, and the Justice Department subsequently said it would follow a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia barring the fund from moving forward.
“The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund put forth by the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, wherein the Court stated that, under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with the Anti-Weaponization Fund recently established in order to make up for the tremendous abuse, harm, and hate unfairly shown to so many people,” the department said. “This Fund was open to anybody who was so weaponized, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise. The Department will abide by the Court’s ruling.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed Tuesday during testimony before a House Appropriations subcommittee that the fund has been scrapped.
“We are not moving forward with the weaponization fund. Period,” Blanche said.
Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., pressed Blanche to provide the statement in writing.
“Could we get that in writing?” Meng asked.
“I’m telling you, it’s not progressing,” Blanche said.
“We hope to see this is writing,” Meng said.
“I think there will be a transcript of what I saw here,” Blanche replied.
A video clip of Blanche’s testimony circulated after the hearing.
The fund had become a flashpoint as Senate Republicans demanded a clearer statement from Trump and the Justice Department before moving forward on related funding matters. Some senators threatened to delay immigration enforcement funding unless the administration made clear that the anti-weaponization fund would not proceed.
Johnson’s comments and Blanche’s testimony now indicate that the administration is backing away from the proposal, at least for now, as Congress turns its focus back to the immigration enforcement funding package.
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