U.S. District Judge Richard Leon declined to block the Trump administration's anti-weaponization fund, stating there was no current need for such action. He indicated he would reconsider if the administration revived plans for the fund, which was initially intended to provide $1.776 billion for claims of political persecution. The judge referenced a warning to the Justice Department, saying, "Don’t play possum with me."
The fund was briefly pursued by the Trump administration but was halted by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche amid political backlash. President Donald Trump expressed support for the fund in a recent NBC interview, suggesting it could be revived, although Judge Leon expressed skepticism about Trump's motivations, suggesting they might be politically driven.
During the proceedings, Leon questioned DOJ attorney Andrew Block regarding the lack of a formal rescission of the order if the fund was indeed inactive. Reports indicate that some officials within the DOJ and Republican strategists believe the fund may still proceed in a different format. Additionally, a separate federal judge had temporarily blocked the fund in a Virginia lawsuit until the following Friday.