Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent repeatedly declined to comment on the IRS’ involvement in a controversial settlement agreement to set up an “anti-weaponization” fund during testimony before a Senate committee Tuesday, citing ongoing litigation.
Bessent, who also oversees the IRS through his post at the Treasury Department, stayed tight-lipped on the settlement, largely deferring to the Justice Department, as Democrats pressed him for details during a Senate Finance Committee hearing focused on President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget request.
The testimony came after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday that the Justice Department would not be moving forward with the fund created in the settlement of an unprecedented $10 billion lawsuit that Trump filed against the IRS over his leaked tax returns. But a related order barring the IRS from probes into Trump will remain in place.
“We intend to comply with that direction,” Bessent said early in his testimony. “I do not have any additional details into what that means at this time, but I will note that even with the acting Attorney General Blanche’s statements yesterday, this matter is still subject to ongoing litigation, so I’m unable to comment further on it.”
