Topline
Republican leaders in Congress suggested Tuesday the Trump administration is fully pausing its $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” in light of it threatening the GOP’s immigration enforcement bill, after the Justice Department sparked widespread confusion Monday about the fund’s fate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, on April 14.
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Key Facts
The “anti-weaponization” fund has threatened to derail the GOP’s bill that directs billions to Trump’s immigration priorities, as many Republicans are critical of the fund and were expected to join with Democrats to pass amendments that would restrict or kill it.
Reports emerged Monday suggesting the Justice Department was going to pause the fund indefinitely in order to quell Republicans’ concerns and save the immigration enforcement bill, but the agency only said it was complying with a recent court order that blocks the fund more temporarily—leaving it unclear whether the fund was actually being killed.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Tuesday despite the DOJ’s vague statement, his understanding is the fund is “off the table,” claiming his conversation about it with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was “very definitive.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also told Politico he believes the fund is “off the table with regard to” the immigration enforcement bill, and suggested the White House was “in the process of” offering more clarity on the fund’s fate.
Republican lawmakers had suggested the DOJ’s statement on Monday was not enough to alleviate their concerns about the $1.8 billion fund, with Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., telling reporters the administration needs to “say what they actually mean,” with Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, saying, “It’s pretty clear that the president has to say very explicitly that there’s not going to be a weaponization fund.”
What To Watch For
Blanche is expected to offer more clarity on where the fund stands at a hearing Tuesday afternoon before the House Appropriations Committee.
Crucial Quote
“I think the president’s been pretty clear via the Department of Justice — their statement [is] that it’s now being set aside,” Johnson told Politico on Tuesday about the $1.8 billion fund’s fate. “So I understand there’s some senators that want a little more than that, but in terms of clarification, so I suppose they’re in the process of doing that.”
What We Don’t Know
Thune and Johnson’s comments Tuesday focused more specifically on the fund in relation to the immigration enforcement bill, and ensuring the fund would not hold up the legislation from passing. It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration could try to reinstate the fund after that bill passes, even if it’s halted now.
Key Background
The Trump administration established its $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund as part of President Donald Trump’s settlement with the IRS, after the president faulted the agency in a lawsuit over his tax returns being leaked. The fund is designed to provide relief to those who believe the federal judiciary has been “weaponized” against them, sparking widespread criticism that it is a “slush fund” for the president’s allies, including Jan. 6 rioters. Even a number of Republicans decried the settlement agreement, and the lawsuit blocking the fund from moving forward is one of several legal challenges that have been filed against it. Judge Leonie M. Brinkema temporarily suspended the government from putting money into the fund or disbursing any funds in an order Friday, keeping the fund on hold while parties file briefs on whether there should be a more extended pause. Her ruling did not make any judgment on whether or not the fund is lawful, and it’s still possible she could allow it to move forward in the future.