Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered a decisive blow to a controversial Trump administration initiative Tuesday, telling House lawmakers that the Department of Justice is permanently abandoning its proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The move, which Blanche described in unequivocal terms—“We are not moving forward with the fund. Period”—appears to have cleared a major hurdle for a $72 billion budget reconciliation package that has been stalled for weeks.
The fund, criticized by Democrats and some Republicans as a slush fund for President Trump to compensate allies he claims were unfairly prosecuted under the Biden administration, had become a flashpoint in negotiations. GOP senators, wary of the political fallout, had demanded a clear and final commitment from the administration that the fund was dead. Blanche’s testimony, in which he responded “correct” to a question from Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) about whether the fund was abandoned forever, provided that assurance.
GOP Senators Relieved but Cautious
Senate Republicans emerged from a weekly conference lunch still uncertain about the package’s fate, but the fund’s demise removed a significant obstacle. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) acknowledged that the prospect of voting on amendments to the bill this week appears “unlikely.” Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said GOP leaders would need to count votes before deciding whether to bring the reconciliation bill to the floor, adding, “The next step is for our whip to find out where everybody’s at based on the administration’s indication that they’re not going to move forward with the fund.”
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a key swing vote, had insisted before Blanche’s remarks that the acting attorney general needed to make “crystal clear” that the fund would not proceed. Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) echoed that sentiment, saying he needed to know if the fund was “dead or nearly dead.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has signaled she may vote against the package for other reasons, said she would be satisfied if the fund was “completely pulled.”
Political Crosscurrents Remain
Despite the progress, the package still faces hurdles. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) plans to offer an amendment that would categorically prohibit the establishment of any anti-weaponization fund, a move that could divide the GOP conference and complicate passage. In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) can afford no more than two defections, assuming Democrats unite in opposition. Johnson has already told Trump the fund is dead amid slim GOP margins, as reported by The World Signal.
Some Republicans, like Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), remain supportive of the concept, arguing that the government should compensate individuals like Jim Troupis, a former Wisconsin judge facing forgery charges for allegedly drafting an alternate slate of electors for Trump in 2020. “The government abuses its citizens. They ought to be able to be compensated,” Johnson said, describing Troupis as a “premier election lawyer” who should be enjoying retirement.
Broader Implications for Appropriations
The fund’s controversy has spilled over into the broader appropriations process, with a Republican senator warning that Democrats will continue to offer amendments on the fund in annual spending bills. “It’s like Democrats will offer amendments on the fund in the appropriations bills,” the lawmaker said, noting that several spending measures could be dragged down by the political fight. The situation mirrors recent tensions over other Trump administration moves, such as the nomination of housing chief Pulte to lead intelligence, which sparked bipartisan alarm.
Meanwhile, the reconciliation package, which would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through 2029, remains in limbo. Blanche’s testimony may have saved it from collapse, but the path forward is far from clear. As Sen. John Hoeven noted, the next steps depend on the whip count—and whether enough Republicans are satisfied that the anti-weaponization fund is truly dead.
