$1.8B DOJ Fund Blocked—Judge Demands Written Assurance
By John Nada·Jun 19, 2026·2 min read
A $1.8B DOJ fund blocked by a judge, demanding written assurance it won't proceed. DOJ resists, citing separation of powers concerns.
In Washington D.C., Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche recently found himself under judicial scrutiny. During a press conference with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Blanche faced a fresh twist in a saga involving a contentious $1.8 billion fund. The fund, intended to compensate alleged victims of prosecutorial overreach during the Biden era, remains blocked by a federal judge's injunction.
Judge Leonie Brinkema extended her block on this fund, demanding more than verbal assurances from the Department of Justice (DOJ). According to CNBC Business, Brinkema insists on sworn declarations from Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, raising eyebrows about the fund's future and the DOJ's internal dynamics.
The DOJ, however, isn't bending easily. A Friday filing from the DOJ labeled the judge's request "unnecessary," tying it to "serious separation of powers concerns." DOJ attorney Andrew Block emphasized that prior commitments against the fund's continuation were made under the threat of legal penalties for any falsehoods. Blanche has publicly stated, even before Congress, that this fund "isn't going forward, period."
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Yet, the shadow of political influence looms large. Brinkema's skepticism partly stems from President Donald Trump's recent comments expressing a desire to proceed with the fund. The fund itself originated from a settlement of Trump's massive $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax records—a move fraught with bipartisan criticism.
Critics fear the fund might serve political ends, compensating allies of Trump who faced legal troubles following the infamous January 6 Capitol riot. The fund's association with such charged events only thickens the plot, as the DOJ navigates through legal and political turbulence.
As the legal chess game unfolds, the broader implications for judicial independence and executive accountability come into sharp focus. Blanche and Bessent have a week to decide their next move. Meanwhile, observers await whether the DOJ will ultimately put pen to paper, or if this legal skirmish will escalate further.