The Justice Department informed a federal judge that the $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund initiated by the Trump administration is not proceeding, yet it is against blocking the fund permanently. In a court filing, DOJ attorney Andrew Block stated that no funds had been allocated and no panel members had been appointed to manage the fund. The department described the situation as both moot and premature, noting that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the fund's existence. The fund was intended to compensate individuals claiming they were victims of 'weaponization and lawfare.'
The Trump administration's stance on the fund has been inconsistent, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stating that the DOJ is not moving forward with it, while Trump referred to the fund as important and expressed uncertainty about its status. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema temporarily halted actions on the fund following a lawsuit filed by former Jan. 6 prosecutor Andrew Floyd and others. A hearing is scheduled for June 12 to discuss a longer-term block of the fund.
Additionally, the Justice Department can still utilize the Judgment Fund, which allows for taxpayer-funded settlements, to provide payments to individuals involved in the January 6 events. Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection, expressed concerns that the administration may find alternative ways to compensate individuals related to January 6, despite the fund's current status. Claire Douglass, a spokesperson for Manifest America, suggested that the government should compensate D.C. taxpayers for losses incurred due to the January 6 trials.