{"id":2604010,"date":"2026-05-18T13:24:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T17:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T13:26:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T17:26:38","slug":"trump-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump DOJ announces $1.776 billion &#8216;anti-weaponization&#8217; fund"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604010&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d intended to compensate people it says were politically targeted, including some connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The settlement stems from a resolution of Donald Trump\u2019s IRS-related lawsuit over the leak of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-senate-republicans-demand-justice-department-probe-into-tax-disclosures\/\" title=\"Top Senate Republicans Demand ... Probe Into Tax Disclosures\">confidential tax records<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p>As part of the agreement, Trump, his family members involved (Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump), and the Trump Organization will not receive direct money damages. Instead, plaintiffs agreed to dismiss their lawsuit with prejudice in return for a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >formal claims process overseen<\/a> by DOJ to address alleged \u201clawfare\u201d and political weaponization. DOJ officials say the department aims to prevent government power from being used improperly and insist ther are no partisan requirements for claims, though some Democrats argue it could effectively benefit Trump-linked individuals.  <\/p>\n<p>The fund can provide both monetary compensation and formal apologies to approved claimants, financed through the federal Judgment Fund. DOJ says the program is limited in how any remaining or unused funds can be handled,will be subject to reporting and audit oversight,and will expire on Dec. 1, 2028, with any leftover money reverting to the government.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> announced on Monday a $1.776 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d that could help compensate Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot defendants and allies of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> who say they were politically targeted during the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/biden-administration\/\">Biden administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The fund, announced in a DOJ <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund\">press release<\/a> Monday morning, was created as part of a settlement resolving Trump\u2019s lawsuit against the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/irs\/\">Internal Revenue Service<\/a> over the leak of his confidential tax records.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572410\/trump-moves-drop-irs-lawsuit-doj-weaponization-victims-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump moves to drop $10 billion IRS lawsuit as DOJ weighs weaponization victims fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572043\/comey-clinton-emails-case-trump-election\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Comey says he would still reopen Clinton email probe despite Trump election<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4571680\/bank-of-america-settles-7-eleven-lawsuit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bank of America settles for $2.25 million in 7-Eleven ATM fees lawsuit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A banner with a portrait of President Donald Trump is hung from the Justice Department on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Under the agreement, Trump, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump-jr\/\">Donald Trump Jr.<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/eric-trump\/\">Eric Trump<\/a>, and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-organization\/\">Trump Organization<\/a> will receive no direct financial damages. Instead, the plaintiffs agreed to dismiss their lawsuit with prejudice in exchange for the DOJ establishing a formal claims process for alleged victims of \u201clawfare\u201d and political weaponization.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>\u201cThe machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department\u2019s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,\u201d acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said the use of federal power \u201cto target individuals or entities for improper and unlawful political, personal, or ideological reasons should not be tolerated by any administration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While DOJ officials stressed there would be \u201cno partisan requirements\u201d to file claims, some Democrats critical of the president\u2019s decision immediately warned the fund could become a vehicle for compensating Jan. 6 defendants and other Trump-aligned figures who have claimed they were unfairly prosecuted during the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis, of course, is a political grievance fund that Donald Trump can use to pay off his friends,\u201d Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jamie-raskin\/\">said<\/a> in a Sunday interview on ABC News\u2019s <em>This Week<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The settlement announcement comes as many Jan. 6 defendants have already sought restitution refunds or multimillion-dollar payouts tied to their prosecutions after Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 people connected to the Capitol riot earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>The fund will have the authority to issue both formal apologies and monetary compensation to successful claimants. It will be financed through the federal Judgment Fund, a permanent congressional appropriation used to pay settlements and legal claims against the government.<\/p>\n<p>The department pointed to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/511902\/millions-left-in-american-indian-farmer-settlement\/\">the Obama-era Keepseagle settlement<\/a> as precedent for the arrangement. That case created a $760 million compensation fund for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/native-americans\/\">Native American<\/a> farmers who alleged discrimination by the federal government.<\/p>\n<p>DOJ officials contrasted the new program with Keepseagle by emphasizing that leftover money from the Anti-Weaponization Fund cannot be redirected to nonprofits or outside groups. The fund will instead issue quarterly reports to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue &quot;Substantial Allegations&quot; of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a> and remain subject to audit oversight.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572410\/trump-moves-drop-irs-lawsuit-doj-weaponization-victims-fund\/\">TRUMP MOVES TO DROP $10 BILLION IRS LAWSUIT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The announcement also landed as U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572410\/trump-moves-drop-irs-lawsuit-doj-weaponization-victims-fund\/\">had been weighing<\/a> whether Trump could legally sue agencies he controls as president, raising broader constitutional and ethical concerns about the litigation.<\/p>\n<p>DOJ officials said the fund will sunset on Dec. 1, 2028, and that any remaining money would revert to the federal government rather than to outside organizations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ unveils $1.776B anti-weaponization fund to aid some Jan. 6 defendants, saying they were targeted during Biden administration<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2604011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26066586205458.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[63030,7076,3634],"class_list":["post-2604010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-anti-weaponization","tag-doj","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26066586205458.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604010"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604010\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604014,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604010\/revisions\/2604014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}