US Republicans lash out over DoJ proposal to give payouts to people who feel targeted by ‘weaponized’ govt

WASHINGTON: Congressional Republicans have lashed out over a nearly $1.8 billion fund created by the Department of Justice (DOJ) this week to give payouts to those who claim to have been the target of a “weaponized” government, The Hill reported.

Discontent simmered over the fund so much so that some senators decided to leave the town for the Memorial Day weekend rather than passing a party-line budget reconciliation bill that would fund Border Patrol and ICE. The Hill reported that certain Republicans are trying to ‘kill’ the fund by passing the June 1 deadline.

A nearly $1.8 billion DOJ-controlled fund cannot be created, defined, and distributed in the shadows.

Today, I called on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to provide immediate transparency on the Department’s newly announced “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

By June 1, DOJ must… pic.twitter.com/wsKQwQQGIi

— Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (@RepBrianFitz) May 21, 2026

On Monday, the DOJ created the $1.776 billion fund as part of a settlement after US President Donald Trump sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for $10 billion over the leaking of his tax returns. As per the DoJ, those who believe they were wrongfully targeted by the government, can request payouts from the fund and “formal apologies”.

This angered the Republicans who were unhappy over Trump’s issuing a blanket pardon to those convicted in connection with storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021, fearing they could get taxpayer-funded payouts.

Nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money cannot be moved into a new DOJ fund without clear legal authority, defined eligibility standards, or oversight.

The American people deserve to know where the money is coming from, who may receive payments from it, and what safeguards exist… pic.twitter.com/8Ca8n3LUoR

— Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (@RepBrianFitz) May 22, 2026

On Wednesday (local time), Representative Brian Fitzpatrick said that some other Republicans and he will “try to kill” the fund and wrote to US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. On Wednesday, he introduced a bill along with Representative Tom Suozzi to prohibit taxpayers’ money from being used to pay any claims submitted to the fund, as per The Hill.

“Taxpayer dollars will not become a discretionary payout fund. Transparency is not optional. Accountability is not negotiable,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

As per CNN, it showed party’s revolt against Trump, whose separate request for $1 billion in US Secret Service funding and East Wing ballroom security also seemed likely to be stripped from the package in part because of GOP opposition. (ANI)