Trump Denies Responsibility as Justice Department’s $1.8 Billion Settlement Fund Faces GOP Sabotage
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President Trump distances himself from the acting attorney general’s order ending the Justice Department’s anti-weaponization settlement fund, a move cheered by Senate Republicans as they push for confirmation of a Trump-aligned nominee.
On Monday, President Donald Trump told reporters he had not signed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s order to dismantle the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion settlement fund, known as the 'anti-weaponization fund.' Trump, feigning ignorance about the order’s details, called the fund 'a positive,' despite the fact that many in his party have worked to undermine it. The fund, designed to provide restitution to those harmed by government overreach, now faces elimination at the hands of a Republican administration intent on shielding itself from accountability.
Legal experts have cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of Blanche’s order. Professor Carissa Byrne Hessick of the University of North Carolina pointed out that the order lacks any real mechanism to prevent the fund’s return, while former U.S. Attorney Barb McQuade dismissed the order as 'hollow.' These critiques highlight the administration’s performative approach to justice, prioritizing political theater over meaningful reform.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, dominated by Republicans, is set to vote on Blanche’s confirmation Tuesday. Senators John Cornyn and John Tillis have already signaled their support, eager to install another Trump loyalist in the Justice Department. If confirmed, Blanche would continue as acting attorney general, further consolidating Trump’s grip on the levers of justice.
Meanwhile, the committee tried to address concerns about a related IRS immunity agreement connected to Trump’s ongoing legal battles. The Department of Justice issued an unsigned statement limiting the agreement’s retroactive application to Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization, pointedly excluding other affiliated businesses. While Cornyn and Tillis claimed their concerns were resolved, the Tax Law Center at NYU noted inconsistencies between the statement and the order, suggesting the administration is more interested in protecting Trump’s inner circle than ensuring transparency.
Experts emphasized that any changes to the settlement fund require written consent from all parties, meaning Blanche could easily reverse his own order and restore the fund. A federal judge’s current block on the fund’s implementation leaves the door open for further government maneuvering, potentially bypassing the fund to deliver payments to individuals in need.
Senator Cornyn, during Blanche’s hearing, underscored the uncertainty: 'Just to be clear, the President of the United States, who’s a party to this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete this weaponization fund, and there’s no guarantee that he, or one of the other plaintiffs, might raise that issue by way of a lawsuit … in the future.'
Ultimately, the fate of the settlement fund—and the broader struggle for justice—rests on the outcome of the confirmation vote and the willingness of those in power to put the public good above partisan interests.