Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks DOJ's $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund

A federal judge in Virginia on Friday temporarily blocked the Department of Justice from taking any further steps to create or disburse money from its $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, as one of three lawsuits challenging the fund proceeds through the courts.

Judge Leon Brinkema of the U.S. District Court in Alexandria issued the injunction and scheduled a hearing for June 12 to determine whether it should remain in place.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the fund earlier this month as part of a settlement of a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service. That suit stemmed from the leak of Trump's tax records by an IRS employee.

The fund is intended to compensate individuals who claim they were subjected to prosecutorial overreach by the DOJ under the Biden administration — conduct that Trump and his allies have characterized as "lawfare."

In her order, Brinkema enjoined the DOJ from "taking any further action pursuant to the creation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which includes the transferring of money to the Fund; the consideration of any claims submitted to the Fund; and the disbursing of any funds from the Fund."

The three plaintiffs who brought the suit include Andrew Floyd, a former federal prosecutor who says he was dismissed last year because of his work prosecuting defendants charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. The other plaintiffs are Jonathan Caravello, a university professor who alleges he was baselessly arrested in 2025 during an immigration protest in California, and the city of New Haven, which the Trump administration sued for operating as a so-called sanctuary city.

Floyd had asked Brinkema on Thursday for the injunction along with expedited briefing on the matter.

In a pointed footnote, Brinkema wrote that maintaining the status quo was "especially" important because the plaintiffs had alleged that DOJ lawyers were "unable ... to provide assurances of how long [the] status quo would last" and had declined a request from the plaintiffs to refrain from transferring money to the fund or processing claims until at least June 19.

Critics of the fund — including some Democratic lawmakers — have labeled it a "slush fund" for Trump allies, including participants in the January 6 Capitol riot. A number of Trump's allies have already publicly indicated they intend to seek compensation from it.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded to the ruling in a post on X, writing, "Of all Trump's corrupt schemes, his insurrectionist slush fund is one of the most depraved." Schumer added, "This ruling is an important win — but the fight is far from over."

The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Brinkema's order.

The June 12 hearing will determine whether the preliminary injunction holds while litigation continues, a timeline that could shape whether any of the fund's resources reach claimants before the legal challenges are resolved.

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