Judge Brinkema Blocks DOJ Anti Weaponization Fund
A federal judge has put a temporary stop on the Trump Justice Department’s new Anti-Weaponization Fund, at least for now. That means anyone hoping to get money from the program will have to wait while the court sorts it out.
The ruling came Friday from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who said the government cannot move forward until after a hearing. The order blocks 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.” A hearing is now set for June 12 in Alexandria, Virginia.
The case was brought by a group of plaintiffs that includes former career prosecutor Andrew Floyd, who says he was fired over his work on Jan. 6 cases. Other plaintiffs include California State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Caravello, the watchdog group Common Cause, the city of New Haven, Connecticut, and the National Abortion Federation.
Judge Brinkema was appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton. Her order keeps the fund on ice while the court reviews the challenge.
SCOTUS Wire posted on X that a federal judge “temporarily halts operation of the DOJ’s Anti-Weaponization Fund pending further briefing,” and that the government is being ordered not to transfer or disburse money before the hearing.
https://x.com/scotus_wire/status/2060373604408189113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Fox News Politics also reported that the judge temporarily blocked the Justice Department’s $1.778 billion fund. The outlet said the order stops the department from taking any further action tied to the fund’s creation or operation.
https://x.com/foxnewspolitics/status/2060402084869292221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The dispute comes after the Trump administration moved to set up the fund as a way to provide restitution to people it says were hit by lawfare. A Justice Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the department is “extremely confident” in the fund’s legality.
“The Department remains extremely confident in the legality of the Anti-Weaponization Fund which is supported by ample precedent, including Obama-era settlements. We will not allow the policy preferences of judges to interfere with our efforts to provide restitution to victims of lawfare.”
That push for restitution has already drawn loud opposition from Democratic officials. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said his state would tax any money disbursed to California residents. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also jumped into the fight, turning the issue into another blue-state political brawl with Trump.
The fund may have become less relevant if Congress had passed the reconciliation package that included it, but that effort stalled before Memorial Day. Senate Majority Leader John Thune backed away from the package and gave the Senate an early break instead.
One more X post tied to the broader fight:
https://x.com/JonathanTurley/status/2060044452983452071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
For now, the money stays frozen. The next key moment will come at the June 12 hearing, where the court will hear more arguments before deciding whether the DOJ can keep moving ahead.