What is Trump’s $1.776 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund? - The New York Times
The Trump administration is creating a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people it says were wronged by the federal government, a group that could be largely made up of the president’s allies.
Top Treasury Lawyer Resigns After Creation of ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ - The New York Times
Brian Morrissey, the department’s general counsel, stepped down hours after the Trump administration announced the $1.8 billion fund.
Paul Figley, a former Justice Department official, said the proposed payment appeared legal. Congress has long neglected to more tightly control how money from the Judgment Fund was used, giving the Trump administration the ability to make this payment.
“It’s not wrong legally. But the problem is he is creating a new federal program, and if he is doing so with money from the Judgment Fund, it’s not the way Congress anticipated the Judgment Fund would be used,” Mr. Figley said. “It’s horrible policy.”
Once money has passed from the Judgment Fund to the new, “anti-weaponization” account, the five-member board will have the freedom to use the money to “pay for per diems, administrative services, funds, facilities, staff, travel and other support services as may be necessary,” though the members won’t draw a salary, according to the Justice Department.
