Court Freezes Trump Administration's Anti-Weaponization Fund as Jan. 6 Prosecutor Sues
A federal judge temporarily blocked payments from the $1.776 billion fund while legal challenges continue.
WASHINGTON | A federal judge has temporarily frozen payments from the Trump administration's Anti-Weaponization Fund, pausing a politically charged compensation program while a lawsuit from a former Jan. 6 prosecutor moves forward.
ABC News reported that U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered the administration not to take further action related to the creation or operation of the fund, including moving money or considering claims, while the court evaluates the challenge. The $1.776 billion fund was established by the Justice Department to compensate people who allege they were wrongly targeted by the Biden administration.
The legal dispute is part of a broader fight over how the second Trump administration is framing prior federal investigations, prosecutions and enforcement actions. Critics of the fund say it risks turning public money into political compensation. Supporters of the administration's anti-weaponization agenda argue that people who were wrongly targeted deserve a remedy.
The freeze does not decide whether the fund is lawful. It pauses the program while the court reviews the claim, preserving the status quo before any payments are made.
Additional Reporting By: CGN News review of reporting from NBC News, ABC News, Reuters and Associated Press.