Judge continues to block Justice Department's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund

By

Updated on: June 12, 2026 / 11:52 AM EDT

/ CBS News

Add CBS News on Google

Alexandria, Virginia — A federal judge on Friday continued to block the Justice Department's nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, expressing skepticism with the Trump administration's claims that the controversial program is not moving forward.U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema granted a preliminary injunction that indefinitely prevents the Trump administration from creating or operating the controversial fund. She had issued an order last month that temporarily blocked the Justice Department from taking any action related to the fund to ensure that no payouts were made while she considered a request for longer relief sought by plaintiffs challenging the program.Brinkema gave the government one week to submit a sworn declaration signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, under penalty of perjury, that asserts that the fund will not move forward. If the Justice Department submits the declaration, the judge said she is likely to drop the case.During a brief hearing, Brinkema rejected the Justice Department's arguments that the case is moot because of Blanche's contention that the department is not moving forward with the fund. Andrew Block, a Justice Department lawyer, had also said in court papers that the fund "had not been set up and is now not going forward."But Brinkema said none of those statements about the fund's future were made under penalty of perjury, so "that means the issue really is not moot." She also cited recent statements from President Trump expressing support for the fund as demonstrating a lack of "uncontestable evidence" that the program would not be revived in some form.Brinkema also questioned Block about why Blanche hasn't rescinded an order from May 18 that established the fund, or committed to writing his assertion that it would not be moving forward. Block said he hadn't spoken to the acting attorney general about the matter.In response, the judge said she couldn't believe, "given the significance of the case," that Block would not have spoken with Blanche about why he hasn't rescinded the order creating the "anti-weaponization" fund, and said it creates a "huge gap" in the case record.