Trump Administration Insists Anti-Weaponization Fund Is Dead—But Reportedly Still Working To Pay Allies

BreakingBusinessTrump Administration Insists Anti-Weaponization Fund Is Dead—But Reportedly Still Working To Pay AlliesByAlison Durkee,Forbes Staff. Alison is a senior news reporter covering US politics and legal news.Follow AuthorJun 11, 2026, 01:26pm EDTToplineThe Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund may not be as dead as it’s publicly suggested, as The Atlantic reports government officials are still quietly working to get money to President Donald Trump’s allies—undercutting the government as it prepares to argue in court why a judge shouldn’t block the allegedly defunct fund.Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche looks on during a signing ceremony at the White House on June 10.Getty ImagesKey FactsThe Trump administration established a $1.8 billion fund for those who’ve felt “victimized” by the government, as part of a settlement between the president and the IRS, but plans only moved forward for a short period of time before GOP lawmakers expressed outrage about the fund and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed it was canceled as a result.The Atlantic, citing anonymous sources, reported Thursday government officials are still “quietly assur[ing] allies that plans for some form of payout remain on track,” however, whether that’s restoring the fund in some form or figuring out a different way to get money to the president’s allies.Multiple lawsuits against the fund are still moving forward despite Blanche claiming it’s dead, as plaintiffs have expressed concerns the court shouldn’t take the AG at his word—noting Blanche has failed to put his commitment to kill the fund in writing, and has not formally rescinded the order establishing the fund.The Atlantic’s reporting undercuts claims the government has made in court trying to assure that the fund is not moving forward and litigation against it should be declared moot and thrown out—which have so far been successful, with a federal judge declining Wednesday to pause the fund s...