US Judge Permanently Blocks Trump's $1.8 Billion 'Anti-Weaponisation' Fund

A federal judge in the United States has indefinitely halted the Trump administration's controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund. The fund was designed to provide payments to individuals who claimed to be victims of "lawfare" and the "weaponisation" of government powers.

Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a preliminary injunction, extending a temporary block that was set to expire. This ruling represents a significant setback for the initiative, which faced considerable opposition from lawmakers and was previously scaled back by the Department of Justice.

The fund originated from a settlement related to a $10 billion lawsuit filed by former President Trump against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The proposed $1.776 billion fund was to be managed by a five-member commission tasked with distributing money to those deemed victims of "weaponisation" – a term Trump frequently used to describe investigations and legal cases involving himself and his allies.

Despite the Justice Department's efforts to distance itself from the plan, including Attorney General Todd Blanche walking back the proposals amid criticism, lawsuits challenging the scheme persisted. Government attorneys argued these lawsuits were now moot. Notably, the commission to determine payout criteria was never formed, and no funds were disbursed or claims accepted. While the administration has retreated from the plan, Trump himself has reportedly continued to speak positively about the fund.