A federal judge in Virginia has placed on hold President Trump’s Justice Department initiative to establish a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, as part of an ongoing legal challenge.

U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, a Bill Clinton appointee, entered an order on May 29, 2026, enjoining the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Treasury from creating or operating the fund while a legal challenge is being briefed. The court order, in Eastern District of Virginia case 1:26-cv-1399 brought by Andrew Floyd and other plaintiffs against the Department of Justice and other defendants, states that no money will be transferred into the fund, claims considered, or funds disbursed until the court rules. The hearing is reset for Friday, June 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

The order specifies that the pause ensures no funds are irreversibly distributed while plaintiffs’ motions remain pending. Defendants must file opposition by June 5, plaintiffs must reply by June 10, and the hearing is set for June 12.

The Anti-Weaponization Fund was announced by the DOJ on May 18, 2026 as part of the settlement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service. This case arose from a leak of more than 400,000 tax returns, including those of President Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization, by an insider within the IRS.

Under the settlement, the plaintiffs — President Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization — received a formal apology but no monetary payment or damages. The fund, which will draw $1.776 billion from a judgment fund, is intended to provide a systematic process for redressing claims of weaponization and lawfare by others.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that “the machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American” and that the department intends to correct past wrongs while preventing future occurrences. The fund will report quarterly to the Attorney General, protect private information, avoid fraud, and cease processing claims no later than December 1, 2028.

The administration maintains that the fund is designed to give victims of weaponization a real path to redress. However, with the court order in place, the initiative remains on hold until June 12.