{"id":2608191,"date":"2026-05-29T11:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-judge-blocks-dojs-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T11:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:01:17","slug":"federal-judge-blocks-dojs-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-judge-blocks-dojs-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal judge blocks DOJ&#8217;s\u00a0$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%2Ffederal-judge-blocks-dojs-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=2608191&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>A federal judge, Leonie Brinkema, temporarily blocked the DOJ\u2019s $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/\" title=\"Trump DOJ announces ....776 billion &#039;anti-weaponization&#039; ...\">776 billion \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-he-wasnt-behind-creation-of-1-7-billion-lawfare-victims-fund\/\" title=\"Trump says he wasn&#039;t behind creation of ....7 billion lawfare victims ...\">anti-weaponization fund<\/a><\/a>,\u201d which was created to compensate allies of President Donald Trump and others who claim they were politically targeted during the Biden administration. the order bars the DOJ from creating, operating, evaluating claims for, or disbursing money from the fund while the case proceeds, with a hearing set for June 12.<\/p>\n<p>DOJ leadership said the programme would \u201cmake right\u201d alleged past wrongs, claimed it would be nonpartisan, and said the fund would sunset on Dec. 1, 2028 with remaining funds reverting to the federal government.Democrats and some Republicans have criticized the initiative,and it has faced multiple lawsuits,including challenges filed in Virginia and Washington,D.C. Some states have proposed taxing payouts-most notably California, were Gov. Gavin Newsom called it a \u201cJanuary 6 slush fund\u201d-though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the proposal.  <\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-accuse-biden-of-playing-political-game-over-border-crisis\/\" title=\"House Republicans Accuse Biden of Playing \u2018Political Game\u2019 Over Border Crisis\">federal judge temporarily blocked<\/a> the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Department<\/a>\u2018s<\/a> $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >776 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d aimed<\/a> at compensating allies of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> and others who say they were politically targeted by the DOJ during the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, issued a temporary halt on any actions regarding the fund, which was announced earlier this month, pending a hearing in the U.S. District <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/courts\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"439\">Court<\/a> for the Eastern District of Virginia.<\/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\/4586926\/bondi-tells-lawmakers-she-didnt-lead-every-aspect-epstein-files-review\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bondi tells lawmakers she didn\u2019t lead \u2018every aspect\u2019 of Epstein files review<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4586947\/federal-judge-blocks-doj-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Federal judge blocks DOJ\u2019s\u00a0$1.776 billion \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4586493\/chicago-us-attorney-refutes-reports-e-jean-carroll-investigation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Chicago US <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-us-attorney-refutes-reports-of-investigation-into-e-jean-carroll\/\" title=\"Chicago US attorney refutes reports of investigation into E. Jean Carroll\">attorney refutes reports<\/a> of direct investigation into E. Jean Carroll<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ is barred from any further action regarding the \u201ccreation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which includes the transferring of money to the Fund; the consideration of any claims submitted to the Fund; and the disbursing of any funds from the Fund,\u201d according to the brief <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.vaed.596617\/gov.uscourts.vaed.596617.31.0.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.vaed.596617\/gov.uscourts.vaed.596617.31.0.pdf\">order<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The judge set a hearing in the lawsuit for 10 a.m. June 12 and emphasized the importance of maintaining the status quo as motivation for halting the fund in the interim.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572715\/doj-announces-anti-weaponization-fund-biden-lawfare\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572715\/doj-announces-anti-weaponization-fund-biden-lawfare\/\">announced the fund<\/a> on May 18, saying it was part of the DOJ\u2019s efforts to compensate those who were allegedly unfairly targeted by the department, aiming to \u201cmake right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again.\u201d DOJ officials also said the fund would have \u201cno partisan requirements,\u201d but Democrats have been openly skeptical of that claim.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DOJ officials said the fund would sunset on Dec. 1, 2028, just before Trump leaves office, and any remaining money would revert to the federal government rather than to outside organizations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4583370\/scott-bessent-newsom-tax-anti-weaponization-fund\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4583370\/scott-bessent-newsom-tax-anti-weaponization-fund\/\">BESSENT SLAMS NEWSOM\u2019S 100% TAX ON ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND: \u2018NO CURE FOR STUPID\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d has <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">drawn widespread pushback from Democrats and some Republican senators, who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4579639\/gop-senators-spurn-anti-weaponization-fund-phone-data\/\">expressed concern<\/a> about the DOJ seeking to award<\/span> compensation. The fund has been the subject of multiple lawsuits, including the one in federal court in Virginia and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4576432\/jan-6-officers-sue-anti-weaponization-fund-dunn-hodges\/\">another one<\/a> filed in federal court in the District of Columbia by two police officers who worked during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several blue states have floated putting a 100% tax on payouts from the fund, including California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) called it a \u201cJanuary 6 slush fund.\u201d Treasury Secretary\u00a0Scott Bessent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4583370\/scott-bessent-newsom-tax-anti-weaponization-fund\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4583370\/scott-bessent-newsom-tax-anti-weaponization-fund\/\">dismissed<\/a> Newsom\u2019s threat, saying at a press conference Thursday, \u201cThere is no cure for stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge blocks DOJ\u2019s $1.776B anti-weaponization fund pending hearing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2608192,"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\/05\/AP26146765672759.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7076,73197,73161,23344,50646],"class_list":["post-2608191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-doj","tag-federal-court-2","tag-federal-judiciary-2","tag-national-security","tag-weaponization-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26146765672759.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608191","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\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608191"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608195,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608191\/revisions\/2608195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}