U.S. President Donald Trump plans to abandon a proposed $1.8 billion fund that had been described as an "anti-weaponization" program and that would have directed taxpayer money to compensate for alleged political "weaponization," according to administration sources. One of two senior administration officials said, "It's dead for now."
The proposed fund emerged from a legal settlement between the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service intended to resolve an unprecedented lawsuit in which the president had sought $10 billion, alleging mishandling of his tax records. Under the terms outlined by the administration, the fund would have provided monetary compensation to individuals identified as victims of political "weaponization."
The announcement provoked widespread criticism. Lawmakers voiced concerns about possible self-dealing by the president and highlighted the risk that funds could be paid to violent supporters who participated in the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol and assaults on law enforcement officers. Those objections came from members of both parties.
Legal action intersected with the political backlash. On Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary order preventing the administration from moving forward with the payout plan while the courts consider the matter. The judicial pause adds an additional barrier to implementation of the program.
Officials framed the fund as a remedy for political "weaponization," but critics questioned the propriety of channeling taxpayer dollars in a way that could advantage political allies. The administration's decision to halt immediate plans for the fund follows the public outcry and the court's temporary block.
At this stage, the proposal remains on hold and any future steps will depend on further internal evaluations and the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings. The specific mechanics for how recipients would have been identified and how payments would have been administered were not finalized publicly prior to the court's injunction and the administration's announcement that the program is paused.
Clear summary
The administration has paused a $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded compensation program tied to a settlement resolving a lawsuit over alleged mishandling of the president's tax records. Critics raised concerns about self-dealing and the potential for payouts to participants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, and a federal judge temporarily blocked the plan.