President Trump acknowledged the $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is "dead" but said he wishes it were still available and wants affected people compensated. The fund and Mr. Trump's IRS settlement — which his team says provided immunity from certain audits — have complicated Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general. Key Republican holdouts, notably Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, are demanding written confirmation the fund will not proceed and narrower terms on the immunity deal. Blanche's Judiciary Committee vote was rescheduled for Aug. 4 as negotiations continue.
Trump Says $1.8B 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Is Dead — But He Still Wants Payouts
Daniel Heuer/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump listens to questions from reporters during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, the presidential retreat, July 31, 2026 in Camp David, Maryland.
President Donald Trump acknowledged Friday that the $1.8 billion so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is "dead," but said he wishes it were still in place and signaled he wants people compensated for what he described as mistreatment. He did not explain why the decision to end the fund has not been put in writing.
The existence of the fund — and Mr. Trump's related settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, which his team says provided him and his family immunity from certain ongoing audits — has complicated the Senate confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a key holdout on Blanche's nomination, has demanded the Department of Justice formally record that the fund will not move forward, matching Blanche's sworn testimony at his confirmation hearing. Blanche testified under oath that the fund was not proceeding.
At a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked the president, "Do you agree with the acting attorney general that the Anti-Weaponization Fund is dead, and why not just put that in writing?" Mr. Trump replied, "Well, it is dead, but you know I wish it weren't, to be honest with you. I think people were horribly treated, horribly abused ... and I'd like to see them compensated for the pain."
Trump also argued that Blanche, despite serving as acting attorney general, "shouldn't be in the middle of this," signaling he does not want the nominee tied to the dispute over the fund and the settlement.
The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a planned vote on Blanche's nomination amid resistance from Cornyn and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, both of whom are outgoing senators. The White House has reportedly floated temporarily withdrawing Blanche's nomination until Cornyn and Tillis leave office.
Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley later put Blanche's committee vote back on the calendar for Tuesday, Aug. 4, but the rescheduling did not necessarily indicate a deal had been reached. Sources say negotiations among the Justice Department, the White House and key senators were expected to continue.
A Senate Judiciary Committee spokesperson said the late notice was intended to give the White House additional time to secure the votes necessary to confirm Blanche and noted the chairman's desire to see the nomination succeed before the August recess.
Separately, lawyers for Mr. Trump moved Friday to appeal an order from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams that criticized their use of the judicial process to attempt to create the fund. Judge Williams said the proposed "settlement" would not have survived judicial review, referred the lawyers for potential disciplinary action and barred Trump and the federal government from citing or relying on the purported agreement in any official proceeding.
Legal Status: It is unclear what effect an appeal would have on Judge Williams' directives or on the wider dispute over the fund and the settlement, but the filing signals the legal fight is likely to continue.
Photo: Daniel Heuer/Reuters — President Donald Trump listens to reporters during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, July 31, 2026.
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