Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks to the media as President Donald Trump listens in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Reports of the demise of President Donald Trump's slush fund appear to have been greatly exaggerated, as a new report from The Atlantic revealed that he is still pushing for it behind-the-scenes, exposing a federal judge's grave mistake for not killing the idea outright.
The Justice Department previously announced a nearly $1.8 million "anti-weaponization" as a settlement for his lawsuit against the IRS, claiming that it would be paid out to people who had been targeted by the government over their political beliefs. The plan quickly came under intense bipartisan scrutiny, and a federal judge later issued a temporary order blocking its implementation. Crucially, the ruling did not kill the idea altogether, with the judge citing the DOJ's claim that they were moving away from the idea.
On Thursday, however, a report from The Atlantic showed just how much of a mistake that decision was on the part of the judge, revealing that plans are still underway behind the scenes at the DOJ to revive the slush fund plan, either in its original form or something different with the same ends.
"Behind the scenes, Justice Department and other Trump-administration officials have quietly assured allies that plans for some form of payout remain on track," The Atlantic's Sarag Fitzpatrick wrote. "I spoke with eight people familiar with the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund—including current and former Justice Department officials, current and former members of Congress, a defense attorney, and political operatives close to the administration. All said that Justice Department officials and people close to the White House have indicated that the payout idea has not actually been scrapped."
She continued: "Rather, they say, officials are exploring whether elements of the fund can be reactivated while also examining alternative arrangements to make sure loyalists get compensated. Across the administration, and even within the Justice Department, officials have differing perspectives on whether the fund itself will ultimately be restored. But either way, officials see a path forward for the government to pay those who say they are victims of supposed government 'weaponization.'”
One anonymous official "acknowledged DOJ was a large institution and there may have been conversations at lower levels" about reviving the slush fund. Others who are "familiar with the internal conversations" claimed that the plans are being kept quiet for now, as they wait for the backlash to die down. They are also reportedly doing so to avoid impacting a major Trump nomination in the near future.
"Crucially, the administration is also trying to avoid a fight over the payout plan, which has been deemed a political slush fund by critics, while the Senate considers Blanche’s nomination for attorney general," Fitzpatrick added. "Republican John Curtis of Utah suggested to reporters earlier this month that holding up Blanche’s nomination was an option for the Senate, noting that congressional amendments are 'not our only chance to kill the fund.' Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who has grown vocal in his criticism of the administration as he heads toward retirement, has indicated that he may not vote to confirm Blanche unless the fund is truly dead."
