A federal judge in Virginia has issued an injunction temporarily blocking the Department of Justice from moving forward with its controversial $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. The order prevents the agency from transferring money into the fund, processing claims, or distributing any payments while legal challenges against the initiative proceed in court. Judge Leonie Brinkema, who issued the ruling, scheduled a follow-up hearing for June 12 to determine whether the injunction should remain in place.

The fund was established by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as part of a settlement regarding a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service. The lawsuit stemmed from the unauthorized disclosure of the President’s tax records by an IRS employee. The DOJ has described the fund as a mechanism to provide restitution to individuals who claim they were targeted by prosecutorial overreach during the previous administration, a practice often referred to by supporters as “lawfare.”

Critics of the fund, including various advocacy groups and political opponents, have characterized the initiative as an unconstitutional “slush fund” intended to benefit political allies. Legal challenges against the fund argue that it lacks proper authorization, violates the separation of powers, and infringes upon the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Plaintiffs in the current litigation include a former federal prosecutor, a university professor, and the city of New Haven, all of whom contend that the fund’s operation is arbitrary and contrary to federal law.

Despite the judicial setback, the Department of Justice maintains that the fund is legal and consistent with historical settlement precedents. A spokesperson for the agency stated that the government remains confident in the initiative’s legality and intends to continue its efforts to provide compensation to those it deems victims of past prosecutorial actions. Meanwhile, additional legal scrutiny is mounting, with further hearings scheduled in Washington, D.C., to address requests for broader restraining orders against the fund’s operation.