Judge Halts Trump Administration’s $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund

Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the two-page order on Friday, specifically barring the administration from moving money into or out of the so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The court set a June 12 hearing to determine whether this pause should be extended amid ongoing legal challenges.

The fund originated from a settlement between the Justice Department and President Donald Trump, who had sued the IRS and Treasury for $10 billion over the leak of his tax returns. Critics, including advocacy groups like Democracy Forward, have labeled the initiative a “felon-to-felon slush fund” because it is expected to benefit participants in the January 6 insurrection—many of whom received presidential pardons despite convictions for violent crimes against police.

Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, praised the ruling as a vital check on executive overreach. Plaintiffs argued that the administration lacked the constitutional authority to establish a political rewards program using public funds without legislative approval. With the court now requiring a formal review, the administration is restricted from disbursing any capital until the legal battle concludes.