Black lawmakers are intensifying their attacks on the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” warning that the Justice Department initiative could hand taxpayer money to Jan. 6 rioters, extremist groups, and political allies.
As President Donald Trump works to protect those involved in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Black Americans continue waiting for justice over generations of racial discrimination, wrongful convictions, police violence, and government abuse.
“This is literally reparations for white supremacists,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) during a fiery exchange over the fund that quickly spread online and ignited outrage among Democrats and civil rights advocates.
The fund was created after Trump agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the disclosure of his tax information. In exchange, the Justice Department established a massive compensation program for individuals claiming they were victims of federal “weaponization” or political persecution.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joined the growing backlash, warning that taxpayer money should not be redirected toward what Democrats describe as Trump’s political grievances while working families face rising costs and shrinking federal support.
“Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not brutalize or kill them,” Jeffries said during remarks criticizing Trump administration spending priorities.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced legislation to block the fund entirely, calling the arrangement unconstitutional and politically dangerous.
“Donald Trump is orchestrating a $1.7 billion fraud on the American taxpayer to line the pockets of his MAGA political allies,” Raskin said in a statement released by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. “This is a massive and unprecedented presidential plunder of the American people.”
Raskin also warned that Trump was “trying to commandeer nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds to bankroll a slush fund for Jan. 6 cop-beaters and aggrieved MAGA foot soldiers.”
Questions surrounding the fund intensified after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche repeatedly refused to rule out payouts to Proud Boys members, Oath Keepers affiliates, or convicted Capitol rioters during questioning from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The administration has insisted the program is designed to compensate Americans harmed by government overreach, but Democrats argue the lack of restrictions leaves the door open for abuse and political favoritism.
“This is corruption on steroids,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote after details of the fund became public. She later called it “a $1.7 BILLION slush fund for Trump’s hand-picked stooges to hand money to January 6th insurrectionists and his political allies.”
