Federal Judge Blocks Trump's $1.8 Billion Fund to Pay January 6 Participants
Popular Information—A Virginia federal judge indefinitely blocked Trump's 'anti-weaponization' executive order fund — worth approximately $1.776 to $1.8 billion — after the Justice Department failed to clarify under oath whether the fund had been genuinely discontinued. The fund, which critics called a slush fund to compensate January 6 rioters, lacked congressional authorization. The court found the government's position inadequate and extended the injunction, leaving the administration unable to distribute the money and potentially forcing a constitutional confrontation if Trump defies the order.
- Popular Information — Reports of Trump's $1.776 billion slush fund being dead are premature and inaccurate
- The New Republic — DOJ official planned to apply to Trump anti-weaponization slush fund
- Public Notice — Government watchdog group calls Trump's January 6 slush fund a new low in corruption
- HuffPost — Politics — DOJ failed to explain why it couldn't commit in writing that the fund was cancelled; fund had no congressional authorization.
- New York Magazine — Courts may force Trump to pay January 6 rioters, which he has refused to do
- NBC News — Politics — Virginia judge extended block after DOJ failed to clarify whether fund is truly discontinued.
- MS NOW — Judge Leonie Brinkema issued a preliminary injunction and gave AG Blanche and Treasury Secretary Bessent one week to sign a sworn statement abandoning the fund.
- The New Republic — Judge Brinkema issued a preliminary injunction; told AG Blanche and Treasury's Bessent to sign perjury-backed statements within a week — a verbal promise wasn't enough.
- Talking Points Memo — Preliminary injunction is one of several legal challenges; judge wants Blanche and Bessent to certify under penalty of perjury that the fund is truly dead.