Overview
- The Justice Department announced the fund Monday as part of a settlement that followed President Trump withdrawing his $10 billion suit against the IRS.
- An addendum to the deal bars IRS examinations of Trump and related entities and gives the acting attorney general authority to appoint a five-member commission to set claim rules and award payments.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and White House officials have said anyone can apply and they have not categorically excluded Jan. 6 defendants from eligibility, raising alarm among law enforcement and lawmakers.
- Two officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 have sued to block the fund and Democrats are pursuing appropriations and oversight moves while some Republicans voice concern, but legal experts say court challenges face steep standing and procedural hurdles.
- The $1.776 billion will be paid from the Treasury’s Judgment Fund through claims processed until Dec. 1, 2028, a structure legal scholars call unprecedented and one that watchdogs warn could invite political patronage and safety risks for victims and officers.