Acting AG Todd Blanche ends Trump’s $1.8 billion anti‑weaponization fund

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed a formal order late Sunday that terminates the $1.8 billion “anti‑weaponization fund” established by former President Donald Trump to compensate political allies who claimed they were targeted by federal investigations. The order, issued under the authority of the Department of Justice’s internal controls, directs the immediate cessation of all disbursements from the fund and mandates a review of any pending payments to determine whether they comply with existing legal standards.

The anti‑weaponization fund, created in the aftermath of the 2020 election, was intended to reimburse individuals and entities that alleged they had been subjected to what the Trump administration described as politically motivated investigations. Critics had questioned the fund’s legality and transparency, noting that it bypassed standard congressional appropriations processes. Blanche’s action follows a series of internal audits and external pressure from watchdog groups, and it signals a shift toward stricter oversight of discretionary DOJ expenditures. The termination may affect ongoing legal defenses funded by the pool and could prompt further scrutiny of similar initiatives within the department.