The Trump administration plans to scrap its proposed $1.8 billion 'weaponization' fund, a program intended to compensate alleged victims of prosecutorial misconduct under the previous administration, according to two senior administration officials who spoke to Axios. One source said, "It's dead for now." The decision follows significant pushback from both parties in Congress.
The fund was widely criticized as a political slush fund that could potentially benefit individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Republicans and Democrats alike in the GOP-led House and Senate raised concerns about its scope and lack of oversight, prompting the administration to back down.
No further details on the exact amount allocated or how the fund was to be administered were provided by the officials. The $1.8 billion figure had been requested by President Trump but was never approved by Congress. The program's collapse leaves unresolved the question of compensation for those claiming prosecutorial abuse.
The abandonment marks a rare policy retreat for the administration on a high-profile issue. It remains unclear whether the White House will pursue alternative measures to address the grievances the fund was meant to target.
Critics argued the fund risked politicizing the justice system further. Supporters had framed it as a corrective measure against what they saw as biased prosecutions.