Anti-Weaponisation Fund paused as Trump administration complies with federal court ruling

The Trump administration said it will follow a court order that pauses a nearly USD 1.8 billion plan. The money was meant to compensate allies of President Donald Trump. The Justice Department said the pause will apply while the case proceeds. The move came after court setbacks and strong criticism from Republicans in Congress.

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The dispute centres on the USD 1.776 billion Anti-Weaponisation Fund. The administration linked it to a settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. That case concerned the leak of Trump’s tax returns. Officials said the fund would address what they described as weaponised law enforcement under the Biden administration.

Anti-Weaponisation Fund court ruling puts plan on hold

A federal judge in Virginia issued a ruling on Friday that temporarily stopped the fund’s formation. The judge ordered the government to halt work while further arguments are prepared. A hearing is scheduled for June 12. The hearing will consider whether the pause should be extended during ongoing litigation.

The Justice Department responded on Monday with a statement. It said it strongly disagrees with the ruling. Still, it accepted the judge’s direction for now. The statement also described who could seek compensation under the plan. "This Fund was open to anybody who was so weaponised, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise,\" the department said.

The department also confirmed its next step on compliance. \"The Department will abide by the Courts ruling.\" The administration’s decision effectively freezes the effort for at least two weeks. That timeline matches the period leading to the next court hearing. The announcement followed heightened scrutiny over how the fund would operate.

Anti-Weaponisation Fund faces Republican backlash over January 6 payouts

Some Trump supporters welcomed news of the fund, including participants in the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol. However, many Republicans in Congress reacted negatively. Lawmakers questioned why any rioters could benefit. Critics within the party raised concerns about paying people linked to the Capitol attack.

Senators confronted acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the fund at a closed-door meeting last month. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas described the session as unusually tense. Cruz said it was \"one of the roughest meetings Ive seen in my entire time in the Senate.\" The internal criticism added pressure as court challenges grew.

Anti-Weaponisation Fund tied to IRS lawsuit and Florida judge’s order

The fund’s outlook was also affected by a separate order in Florida. The judge handling Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS raised questions after settlement critics made serious claims. US District Judge Kathleen Williams told Trump’s attorneys to respond. Williams set a June 12 deadline for written answers.

Judge Williams asked for responses to allegations that Trump dropped claims to avoid court review of an illegal deal. Critics also alleged collusion connected to the settlement. The judge requested arguments on whether the case should be reopened. The order also referred to claims that the court \"was the victim of a fraud.\"

With the Virginia order in place and the Florida questions pending, the administration’s compensation plan remains paused. The Justice Department says it opposes the Virginia ruling but will comply. Court activity on June 12 will shape what happens next. Republican objections and litigation risks continue to hang over the Anti-Weaponisation Fund.

With inputs from PTI