Trump administration's $1.8 bn Jan. 6 support fund sued by Capitol police

The Trump administration announced a $1.776 billion "anti‑weaponization" fund intended to compensate individuals who say they were wrongly prosecuted or investigated by previous administrations. The fund, managed by the Justice Department under acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, would be overseen by a five‑member panel that the president could dismiss and is set to expire in December 2028.

Two law‑enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 2021—Retired Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges—filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the fund. They argue the money would benefit the rioters who attacked them, could be used to finance further violent activity, and endangers their personal safety. The complaint cites injuries they sustained during the attack and ongoing threats. Critics, including Democrats and some Republican lawmakers, have described the fund as a slush‑box for Trump allies and a misuse of taxpayer money.

The creation of the fund coincided with President Trump dropping a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, a move tied to the settlement establishing the compensation program.