Judge halts Trump’s near-$1.8B payout plan, stepping in where Congress would not

A federal judge indefinitely blocked President Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” payout fund, demanding a sworn commitment that the plan won’t be revived. Brinkema rejected mootness arguments and said the public interest strongly supports blocking the fund, while Republicans’ objections and DOJ actions show ongoing uncertainty about any future reactivation or alternative compensation schemes for Jan. 6 defendants.