Blanche faces Capitol Hill lawmakers while defending nearly $1.8B ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’

OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
2:58 PM – Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the newly unveiled $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” amid tense sparring with Capitol Hill Democrats.

Testifying on the Justice Department’s 2027 budget request, Blanche outlined the program, which was established on Monday as part of a settlement resolving President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the illegal leak of his tax returns under the prior Biden administration.

The fund aims to provide what the administration has described as long-overdue compensation to Americans who were politically or ideologically targeted by the federal government during the Biden-Harris years, delivering accountability and restitution for years of weaponized law enforcement.

While Democrat lawmakers heavily criticized the initiative, labeling it an abuse of power, Blanche emphasized its non-partisan design. He made clear that eligibility is open to any American who believes they were a victim of government overreach, regardless of political affiliation.

When pressed by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) on whether individuals convicted of violent acts during the January 6, 2021, Capitol protests would be categorically excluded, Blanche refused to impose blanket political disqualifications, stating that every claim deserves fair consideration based on the merits and that personal opinions would not dictate outcomes.

Decisions will reportedly be made by an independent five-member commission appointed by the Attorney General.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the subcommittee, condemned the new initiative as a “pure theft of public funds,” and even attempted to equate it with rewarding January 6^th protesters.

“Today, Blanche got very offended when I called him out for continuing to act like Trump’s personal attorney. Now, we learn he quietly signed a deal to bar the IRS from EVER reexamining Trump’s, his family’s, or his companies’ prior taxes. How does this serve the American people?” Van Hollen later posted on X, attaching a POLITICO article.

 

Blanche and administration officials countered that the program addresses systemic abuses documented across multiple investigations, including the “Trump-Russia Collusion” narrative, partisan censorship efforts, and prosecutions that specifically targeted conservatives, parents at school boards, and others who challenged the previous Democrat administration.

The fund draws from the federal Judgment Fund — a longstanding U.S. Treasury mechanism used for decades to resolve claims and settlements against the United States — and will be administered with a focus on efficiency. Claims processing is scheduled to conclude on December 15, 2028, and conservative analysts maintain this timeline ensures timely relief for victims of “political lawfare” before the next election cycle.

On the flip side, Democrat critics and the mainstream media have described the settlement as “collusive” — since it resolves litigation involving the current executive branch.

However, GOP proponents note that the prior Biden administration routinely used similar settlement authorities, including large Obama-era payouts, and that President Trump’s approach finally turns the page on the weaponization of federal agencies against ordinary citizens and political opponents.

During the final minutes of the hearing, Blanche asserted further that the Department of Justice (DOJ) must restore impartiality and provide meaningful redress — the effective correction of a wrong, grievance, or injustice.

The creation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund represents a step toward dismantling the two-tiered system of justice that many Americans believe defined the prior administration, prioritizing accountability and the equal application of the law. As the program moves forward, it stands as a key part of President Trump’s commitment to reforming federal institutions and protecting constitutional rights.

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