President Trump met with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at the White House on Monday to discuss the Justice Department’s controversial $1.776 billion antiweaponization fund, sources in the Speaker’s office confirmed to The Hill and to NewsNation’s Joe Khalil.
The meeting comes as Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate have voiced frustration over the fund, which would issue payouts to individuals who believe they have been wronged by the government, in particular under the Biden administration. Potential beneficiaries of the fund could include those implicated in the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks on the Capitol and other Trump allies who appear to already be applying.
Last week, Senate Republicans warned Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a fiery meeting that a budget reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement, a key priority for the administration, would not move forward until their concerns over the fund were resolved.
Democrats have also lashed out at the measure, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) referring to it as a “slush fund.”
A federal judge issued a ruling Friday temporarily blocking the administration from establishing the fund until a hearing is held later this month on a lawsuit opposing it.
Johnson was supposed to meet with Trump at the White House last month but the meeting was cancelled after the Senate left Washington without passing a reconciliation bill.
The Senate is set to return on Monday evening to prepare for a likely showdown over the potential legislation. The House is also set to reconvene this week.