A key House Republican is moving to derail President Trump's $1.776 billion compensation fund for individuals claiming federal government targeting, warning the program could funnel taxpayer money to January 6 rioters and Trump allies.
"We're gonna try to kill it," Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) told reporters Wednesday, adding that his team is exploring legislative options to halt the fund. "We're trying to unpack exactly what the legal machinations are." Fitzpatrick's comments mark a rare intra-party challenge to Trump's agenda, as the fund faces bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill.
Fund Created as Part of Trump-IRS Settlement
The fund stems from a negotiated settlement between Trump and the IRS, in which the president agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit over leaked tax returns. In exchange, the Justice Department established the "anti-weaponization" fund to issue formal apologies and monetary payouts to individuals who "suffered weaponization and lawfare" from the federal government, according to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
While administration officials insist there is no partisan requirement for claims, critics argue it's a thinly veiled slush fund for Trump's political base. Concerns escalated after Blanche did not rule out eligibility for Trump campaign donors or militia members like the Oath Keepers during a Senate hearing Tuesday. "That's not for me to set," Blanche said, deferring to a yet-to-be-named commission.
Jan. 6 Officers Sue to Block Payouts
Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, both of whom defended the Capitol during the January 6 attack, filed a lawsuit this week arguing the fund sends the wrong signal to "past and potential future perpetrators of violence." The officers' legal challenge seeks to block any payments to those convicted for their roles in the riot.
House Democrats are also mobilizing. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced legislation Wednesday to prohibit any federal funds from backing the settlement and to bar convicted January 6 participants from receiving compensation. "Trump is trying to commandeer nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds to bankroll a slush fund for January 6 cop-beaters and aggrieved MAGA foot soldiers," Raskin said in a statement. He added that the move has "glaring constitutional defects" since only Congress has the power to appropriate federal dollars.
IRS Permanently Barred from Auditing Trump
Beyond the fund, the settlement permanently prohibits the IRS from auditing Trump's prior tax returns or pursuing certain claims against him, his family, or his businesses, according to a memo signed by Blanche. Fitzpatrick indicated that future legislation would address this provision as well. "Yeah, you can't do that," he said when asked about the auditing ban.
The controversy comes as Trump's aggressive use of executive power continues to spark debate within his own party. Some Republicans have warned that purging internal critics could hurt the party's midterm prospects. Meanwhile, House Democrats have demanded the Justice Department provide a full accounting of the fund's creation and oversight.
With Fitzpatrick vowing to kill the fund and Raskin pushing rival legislation, the battle over Trump's anti-weaponization program is set to intensify in the coming weeks.
