Trump 's planned $1.8 billion payout to loyalists is dead

Trump’s planned $1.8 billion payout to loyalists like Proud Boys is dead

On May 18th, Trump’s Justice Department announced a nearly $1.8 billion fund called the Anti-Weaponization Fund; however, on Tuesday, the acting Attorney General of the USA said that they were no longer moving forward with it amid a backlash from both Democrats and Republicans.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Trump administration will drop plans for a $1.8 billion fund to pay victims of alleged government “weaponization” following a backlash from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers https://t.co/KinO8jVESL

— Bloomberg (@business) June 2, 2026

Trump said the purpose was to reimburse people who had been “horribly treated, horribly treated” by the government under the Biden administration.

However, lawsuits against the fund had piled up despite the relatively short time its been in place, including from police officers who had been on the receiving end of the January 6 rioters and were now suing Trump against the fund.

The total amount was set at exactly $1.776 billion, a symbolic nod to the nation’s founding year of 1776. This number has long been embraced by white nationalist circles as well as the Trump administration.

Trump’s Proud Boys and co

Forbes magazine published a list of the people who planned to apply for the money.

It included Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader; George Santos, the disgraced former congressman; Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer; Roger Stone, the longtime Trump advisor; Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO; Tina Peters, the convicted Colorado election clerk; more than 1,500 January 6 defendants; anti-abortion activists; and Moms for Liberty.