What To Watch For
It’s unclear how long the $1.8 billion fund could stay on hold. The court order that blocked it keeps the fund on pause through at least June 12, when a hearing is scheduled for whether it should move forward, but it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will respond if the court reinstates it. It’s still possible the Trump administration will try to revive the controversial settlement, as an anonymous administration official told Axios on Monday only that the fund was “dead for now.”
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What Did The Court Rule?
Judge Leonie M. Brinkema ruled Friday to temporarily bar the Trump administration from taking any further action regarding the fund, including transferring money to it, considering any claims for relief, and giving out any money through the fund. She did not offer any reasoning behind her decision, and did not make any judgment on whether or not the fund was lawful, only halting it so the parties in the lawsuit can file arguments on why it should or should not be paused for a longer period of time as litigation against it moves forward.
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What Have Democrats Said?
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed in a to his Democratic colleagues Monday to wage a campaign to kill the $1.8 billion fund. “This week, Senate Democrats will launch a coordinated effort to kill the slush fund before one cent goes out the door,” Schumer wrote, adding Democrats will “force” their GOP colleagues to vote on the issue. Republicans voting on the fund would force them to publicly state they support or oppose it, which could be a liability ahead of the midterms. “Democrats are forcing Republicans to make one simple choice: kill the slush fund or own it,” Schumer wrote.
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Further Reading
ForbesTrump’s $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund Blocked In Court—At Least For NowBy Alison DurkeeForbesApplicants For Trump’s $1.8B Fund Include Proud Boys Leader, J6 Rioters And George SantosBy Sara DornForbesMore Republicans Blast Trump’s $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund As Blanche Pleas For Their ApprovalBy Sara Dorn