Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally pulled the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” in an effort to move forward with his nomination.
“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions. We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement,” he wrote on X. “The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress.”
One of the documents attached to Blanche’s statement declares that the fund “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect,” while another notes that the initial order only applied to retroactive claims and did not apply to future tax filings.
“The Acting Attorney General stands by all of his July 15, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony, including answers to questions asked by Senator Cornyn related to the scope and applicability of the May 19, 2026 Order,” the document reads.
In June, the Trump administration announced it would drop the initiative after a district court judge ruled against the fund. “The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund put forth by the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, wherein the Court stated that, under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with the Anti-Weaponization Fund recently established in order to make up for the tremendous abuse, harm, and hate unfairly shown to so many people,” the DOJ said in a statement at the time. “This Fund was open to anybody who was so weaponized, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise. The Department will abide by the Court’s ruling.”
The block on the fund was later expanded.
