Trump Reportedly Drops Controversial Weaponization Fund

US President Donald Trump plans to drop his proposed $1.8bn anti-weaponization fund, Axios reported on Monday, after a court blocked the move and some of his fellow Republicans pushed back.

“It’s dead for now”, one of two senior administration officials cited by Axios said.

The fund was intended to compensate people who claimed to have been victims of political weaponization by the federal government. Critics said it could have used taxpayer money to reward Trump allies, including people involved in the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot.

The proposal was created as part of a settlement between Trump’s Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax records. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from setting up or operating the fund while further legal arguments are heard.

(reuters)