Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic unanimous-consent request to pass a bill that would abolish President Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “Anti‑Weaponization Fund” and void a settlement protecting him and his family from ongoing tax enforcement. Chuck Schumer urged a permanent legal ban, while Sen. Bill Hagerty objected, citing the president’s statement and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s comments that the fund was not moving forward. The Justice Department has not withdrawn the memo announcing the fund and has defended it in court; a judge has temporarily barred implementation.
Senate Republicans Block Push To Ban Trump’s $1.8B ‘Anti‑Weaponization’ Fund And Void Tax Settlement
Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a Democratic effort to advance legislation that would abolish President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “Anti‑Weaponization Fund” and nullify a settlement that shields Trump and his family from further tax enforcement. The move came after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer sought unanimous consent to pass the measure without a roll-call vote, and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R‑Tenn.) objected.
What Happened On The Senate Floor
Schumer argued on the Senate floor that codifying a ban into law is the only way to prevent the fund and settlement from being used in the future. “The only way we’re going to ensure they never see the light of day is to ban them permanently by law,” he said.
Hagerty countered that President Trump has said he would not seek compensation from the fund and pointed to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s statement that the program is not moving forward. “Why is that not enough for my colleagues from across the aisle?” Hagerty asked.
Unanimous Consent And Political Signaling
Unanimous-consent requests are commonly used to fast-track noncontroversial measures, but they are also a way for senators to force colleagues to go on record when an objection is expected. By objecting, Hagerty prevented the measure from passing without a formal vote, effectively stalling the effort for now.
Legal Status And Background
Although administration officials have said the fund will not move forward, the Justice Department has not rescinded the internal memorandum that announced the program and has fought a lawsuit challenging its creation. A federal judge has temporarily barred the department from implementing the program. The proposed fund was intended to provide payments to some participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Democrats say the legislation was necessary to permanently block what they call a political slush fund and to nullify a tax-enforcement settlement. Republicans argue statements from the president and the acting attorney general make the legislative action unnecessary.
With unanimous consent denied, proponents of the bill can still try other procedural routes to advance their measure, but the path forward is likely to be lengthy and politically charged.
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