Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Push to Block $1.8 B Weaponization Victim Fund

A $1.8 billion fund created by the Justice Department to compensate individuals claiming they were victims of federal “weaponization” was established as part of a settlement that ended former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The fund, financed from the federal Judgment Fund, would operate under a commission to review claims.

Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, a former FBI agent, announced a bipartisan effort to stop the fund, stating, “We’re gonna try to kill it,” and warning that “a nearly $1.8 billion DOJ‑controlled fund cannot be created, defined, and distributed in the shadows.” He joined Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi in introducing the “Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act,” which would prohibit the use of federal money for the newly created “Anti‑Weaponization Fund.”

Democrats also moved against the fund, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D‑MD) introducing the “No Taxpayer‑Funded Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026,” citing constitutional concerns over the executive branch’s use of unappropriated funds. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the fund, saying it aims to provide a lawful process for law‑fare victims. The legislative clash underscores a broader debate over transparency, accountability, and the separation of powers in handling taxpayer‑funded settlements.