Trump DOJ pauses $1.8B anti-weaponization fund

The Justice Department said Monday it will stop work on its planned Anti-Weaponization Fund, effectively shelving the roughly $1.8 billion program for now after a court ruling. In a post on X, the department said it "disagrees strongly" with the court’s decision but "will abide by the Court's ruling." The department described the fund as open to individuals across the political spectrum and to people of any political affiliation.

The decision means there will be a pause in active establishment or disbursement activity for the fund while officials and lawmakers consider their options. Reports have cited the planned size of the fund at about $1.8 billion, with some accounts putting the figure at $1.776 billion. The Justice Department’s move follows legal action that resulted in the court order and has immediately stalled implementation.

White House officials on Monday informed top Republican lawmakers that the administration is retreating from its initial rollout of the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. The communication came after fierce pushback within the Republican Party and broader opposition on Capitol Hill. According to accounts cited in news reports, the administration has been rethinking the program in response to this political pressure.

Senate leaders have been engaged in back-channel discussions with the White House over the fate of the fund. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he had been talking with the administration about the issue. Thune told reporters that if the White House "effectively shuts it down — makes that very, very clear — then that, to me, should answer the question" for most Republicans, signaling that a clear retreat could ease concerns in his conference.

As the fund came under legal and political pressure, President Donald Trump met Monday in the Oval Office with House Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss the Anti-Weaponization Fund, according to multiple accounts. The meeting took place while House and Senate Republicans were weighing how to respond to the program and to the administration’s evolving stance.

Democratic leaders have indicated they plan to press votes related to the fund, adding another layer of complexity for Republicans managing intra-party objections and partisan opposition. Congressional leaders and party officials are assessing political and procedural options in light of the court ruling, the Justice Department’s pause, and the White House’s signal that it is stepping back from the initiative.

With the DOJ’s announcement that it will abide by the court ruling and halt work, immediate implementation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund is on hold. The administration’s retreat, combined with ongoing talks between the White House and congressional leaders, leaves the future of the $1.8 billion program uncertain.

For now, the key consequence of Monday’s developments is a standstill in launching or distributing money from the fund. Lawmakers in both parties are using this pause to evaluate legislative and political options, while Republicans in particular weigh how a formal shutdown or clarification from the White House might address concerns within their ranks.