Attorney General Todd Blanche Declares $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund Shelved After GOP Backlash

President Trump had proposed the idea as part of his IRS settlement.

The Justice Department’s top official told Congress Tuesday the administration is abandoning plans for an anti-weaponization fund. Screenshot: House Appropriations Committee

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers Tuesday the Trump administration will not move forward with a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” compensation fund for people prior administrations unfairly investigated, delivering the clearest statement yet the controversial effort has been shelved.

Appearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Mr. Blanche answered “Correct” when New York Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng asked if the administration is abandoning the plan permanently.

The fund had been arranged last month as part of a settlement when President Trump agreed to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the 2019 leak of his tax records; it was intended to compensate people Mr. Trump and his allies said were targeted by politically motivated investigations. But it received pushback not only from Democrats but Senate Republicans, who put on hold immigration-enforcement legislation the White House has championed.