WATCH: Trump administration 'not moving forward' with anti-weaponization fund, Blanche testifies

By — Maria Ramirez Uribe Maria Ramirez Uribe Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-administration-not-moving-forward-with-anti-weaponization-fund-blanche-testifies Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump administration 'not moving forward' with anti-weaponization fund, Blanche testifies Politics Jun 2, 2026 5:05 PM EDT Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Tuesday that the Trump administration was not "moving forward" with a controversial "Anti-Weaponization Fund." Watch the clip in the video player above. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., asked Blanche whether the Justice Department planned to reinstate its $1.8 billion fund following a court-mandated temporary pause. "We're not moving forward with the fund," Blanche said during a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The Justice Department moved to create the fund as part of a settlement with President Donald Trump to end a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leaking of his tax returns. A federal judge blocked the fund for two weeks pending additional legal arguments. On Monday, the Justice Department said it disagreed with the ruling but would comply with it. Many Senate Republicans opposed the fund and were holding up immigration enforcement funding over the issue, while other critics worried it might be used to reward rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. During the hearing on Tuesday, Blanche said his department would not move forward with the fund regardless of the outcomes of future court hearings. "OK, well, we will work with you and hold you to it," Meng said. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now