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Trump administration drops $1.8 billion 'weaponization' fund after Republican backlash

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WASHINGTON

Trump administration drops $1.8 billion 'weaponization' fund after Republican backlash

Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Nandita Bose and Richard Cowan Reuters
Jun 2, 2026
Jun 2, 2026 Updated 3 hrs ago
0

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the Justice Department has fully abandoned the proposed “anti-weaponization” fund. Blanche said that the “reasons for the fund,” alleged weaponization of the justice system, “remain as important as they were before, but we are not moving forward…

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WASHINGTON — The Trump administration abandoned the president's nearly $1.8 billion "weaponization" fund, U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers Tuesday, after a rare backlash from Republican senators.

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House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice, on Capitol Hill — Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche responds to U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., during his testimony Tuesday before a House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Evelyn Hockstein, REUTERS

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House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice, on Capitol Hill — U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., speaks Tuesday during acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche's testimony before a House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Evelyn Hockstein, REUTERS

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House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice, on Capitol Hill — U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., speaks Tuesday during acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche's testimony before a House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Evelyn Hockstein, REUTERS

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House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice, on Capitol Hill — U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., speaks to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday at a House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Kylie Cooper, REUTERS

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Justice Department is not moving forward on the 'anti-weaponization' fund, Blanche says

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the Justice Department has fully abandoned the proposed “anti-weaponization” fund. Blanche said…

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