President Trump convened with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at the White House on Monday to hash out the future of the Justice Department's embattled $1.776 billion antiweaponization fund, according to sources in the Speaker's office. The meeting, confirmed by The Hill and NewsNation's Joe Khalil, comes as Republican lawmakers in both chambers grow increasingly uneasy over a proposal they fear could become a political liability.
The fund, designed to compensate individuals who claim they were wrongfully targeted by the federal government—especially under the Biden administration—has drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the aisle. Potential beneficiaries include those involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach, as well as other Trump allies who have already begun filing applications, raising alarms about its intended purpose.
Senate Republicans last week delivered a blunt warning to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during a fiery closed-door meeting: they would block a budget reconciliation bill aimed at funding immigration enforcement—a top administration priority—unless their concerns over the fund are addressed. The standoff threatens to stall one of the White House's key legislative goals.
Democrats have also piled on. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has repeatedly branded the fund a “slush fund,” a label that has stuck among critics. A coordinated Senate push led by Schumer aims to block the measure entirely, adding to the pressure on Republican leaders.
The controversy deepened Friday when a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from establishing the fund until a hearing later this month on a lawsuit opposing it. The legal setback underscores the mounting resistance to a plan that critics argue could reward political allies and undermine the Justice Department's independence.
Monday's White House meeting was originally scheduled for last month but was abruptly canceled after the Senate left Washington without passing the reconciliation bill. The Senate is set to reconvene Monday evening, bracing for a likely showdown over the legislation, while the House also returns this week. The Senate GOP is bracing for a showdown as the fund threatens to fracture party unity.
The fund's potential to compensate January 6 defendants has fueled accusations that the administration is attempting to rewrite history. A growing backlash among Republicans over Trump's revisionist narrative of the Capitol attack has complicated the White House's messaging, with some GOP lawmakers wary of being seen as endorsing the fund.
As the reconciliation bill hangs in the balance, the meeting between Trump and Johnson signals the administration's urgency to resolve the impasse. However, with a court order in place and bipartisan opposition hardening, the path forward remains uncertain.
