Washington, D.C. — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Trump administration’s new $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” compensation fund Wednesday after bipartisan criticism over who could potentially receive taxpayer-funded payouts.
The fund was created through a settlement tied to President Donald Trump’s withdrawn lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns. According to the Department of Justice, the program will allow individuals who believe they were unfairly targeted by the federal government to seek financial compensation or formal apologies.
During an interview with CNN, Blanche was pressed on concerns that individuals convicted of assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot could potentially apply for payments. “People that hurt police get money all the time,” Blanche said, arguing that legal settlements involving claims against governments are common in the U.S. legal system.
Democrats and some Republicans have criticized the program, while two Capitol Police officers involved in defending the Capitol on Jan. 6 have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the fund. Blanche declined to comment directly on who may qualify, saying it would be inappropriate to discuss hypothetical cases.
The DOJ compared the program to prior federal settlement funds, including the Obama-era Keepseagle v. Vilsack agreement, which compensated Native American farmers who alleged discrimination by the USDA.
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