DOJ Rebuffs Judge's Demand to State "Anti-Weaponization" Fund Is Officially Dead
Updated on: June 19, 2026 / 2:41 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- The Trump administration declined to submit a court declaration from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding the "anti-weaponization" fund.
- Senior Justice Department lawyers called the judge's demand for a sworn statement "unnecessary" and cited separation of powers concerns.
- U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema had requested the declaration under penalty of perjury to ensure the fund would not proceed in any manner.
- The judge previously granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Justice Department from creating or operating the program.
- The "anti-weaponization" fund was part of a settlement for a lawsuit President Trump filed over the leak of his tax returns.
- The fund faced backlash over concerns that individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack could receive payouts.
- The Justice Department has asserted in court filings and to Congress that the fund is not going forward, but these statements were not under penalty of perjury.