Trump, his two sons, and the Trump Organization opened 2026 by suing the IRS for ten billion dollars over a leak of their tax records. This was the president suing the government he was running.
A month later, the pattern started to show. In April 2026, the Justice Department paid Michael Flynn 1.25 million dollars from the Treasury’s Judgment Fund. A federal judge had already dismissed Flynn’s claims, but the payout still went through.
On May 19, ABC News reported that the DOJ was working on a settlement fund for Trump allies. The next day, May 20, the DOJ announced the “Anti Weaponization Fund.” The amount was 1,776,000,000 dollars — a number chosen to echo 1776. The money came from the Judgment Fund, which does not require a vote from Congress.
Congress never voted on this fund. It was created inside the executive branch using money already available.
Right after the fund was announced, Trump dropped his ten‑billion‑dollar lawsuit. The government issued a formal apology to Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization. The fund was described as having “few constraints on who can submit a claim,” meaning the rules were loose and the door was wide open.
Members of Congress pushed back.
Rep. Jamie Raskin said Congress alone has the power to appropriate money and would never have approved this.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren said it looked like a taxpayer‑funded slush pool for Trump’s allies.
The timing also matters. Claims can be processed until December 15, 2028 — after the midterms, before the next presidential election.
The core numbers tied to this story:
$1,776,000,000 — Anti Weaponization Fund, May 2026
$10,000,000,000 — Trump’s original IRS lawsuit, later dropped
$1,250,000 — Paid to Michael Flynn, April 2026
1776 — The year used to brand the fund
December 15, 2028 — Deadline for claims
