Alexandria, Va. – Plaintiffs challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s $1.776 billion so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” filed a motion today seeking emergency relief to stop the administration from distributing taxpayer funds through what their lawsuit describes as an unlawful and unconstitutional political compensation program.
The plaintiffs include former federal prosecutor Andrew Floyd, Professor Jonathan Caravello, the City of New Haven, the National Abortion Federation, and Common Cause. Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward.
The motion asks the court to block implementation of the slush fund while litigation proceeds, arguing that the Trump-Vance administration is attempting to create and operate a secretive compensation scheme that rewards individuals aligned with its political views while excluding others harmed by government abuse. It notes that the Trump-Vance administration has refused to disclose when payouts will begin, creating urgent and irreparable harm because once taxpayer money is distributed through the fund, it may be impossible to recover, and the constitutional harms will already have occurred.
The filing explains that at least one individual has already publicly stated that they submitted a claim seeking $2.7 million from the fund, while allies of the administration have openly discussed plans to pursue compensation through the program.
The fund was created after President Trump sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over disclosure of his tax returns and then settled the lawsuit through an agreement establishing the “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The filing argues the Trump-Vance administration is improperly diverting nearly $1.8 billion from the federal Judgment Fund into a separate entity empowered to distribute money with minimal transparency, oversight, or judicial review.
The motion argues the fund violates the First Amendment, equal protection principles, separation of powers, the Administrative Procedure Act, and constitutional restrictions on federal spending. The filing also warns that the fund could embolden individuals involved in political violence and extremist conduct by signaling government endorsement and potential financial compensation.
“Trump’s unconstitutional $1.8 billion slush fund is a recipe for waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Omar H. Noureldin, senior vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause. “These illegal payouts could start flowing immediately to criminals, insurrectionists, or the president’s political allies—and once paid out, they can’t be undone. We are asking the court for an immediate injunction to protect Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars.”
“We need to put a stop to President Trump’s political slush fund so that taxpayer dollars are not used to reward or pay off Trump’s political allies and criminals. New Haveners send their taxpayer dollars to Washington to be used for critical government functions and services like public safety, infrastructure, Medicare, and Social Security – not to be stolen and used for unlawful and corrupt political purposes or to reward insurrectionists,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. “We are asking the court to issue an immediate injunction so that not a single check is cut as part of this political scheme.”
“Abortion providers and patients should never have to fear that taxpayer dollars could be used to reward the people targeting health care clinics,” said Brittany Fonteno, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation. The court should stop this fund before money begins flowing to anti-abortion extremists and deepening the threats providers and patients already face. NAF is proud to stand with our co-plaintiffs to demand transparency, accountability, and protection for abortion providers and the patients they serve.”
“The Constitution does not allow the executive branch to raid taxpayer funds in order to create a secretive political rewards program for the president’s allies and ideological supporters,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The Trump-Vance administration is attempting to bypass Congress, evade transparency requirements, and weaponize taxpayer funds to reward favored political actors while excluding and punishing perceived opponents. We are asking the court to act immediately before taxpayer dollars are unlawfully distributed through a fundamentally unconstitutional scheme.”
The case is Andrew Floyd et al. v. U.S. Department of Justice et al. The legal team at Democracy Forward includes Pooja Boisture, Jyoti Jasrasaria, Aman George, Kevin Friedl, Jessica Morton, Ayesha Khan, Robin Thurston, and Skye Perryman.
Read the motion here.
