Alexandria, Va. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bill Cassidy filed a bipartisan brief supporting plaintiffs challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” underscoring the serious constitutional concerns raised by the administration’s attempt to create a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded compensation program outside the authority granted by Congress.
The senators filed the brief in support of plaintiffs who successfully obtained a temporary restraining order that paused implementation of the fund, preventing the administration from moving forward with the scheme. The brief argues that the fund represents an unconstitutional end-run around Congress’s authority over federal spending and appointments and raises grave separation-of-powers concerns.
The plaintiffs in the case are former federal prosecutor Andrew Floyd, Professor Jonathan Caravello, the City of New Haven, the National Abortion Federation, and Common Cause. They are represented by Democracy Forward.
“The significance of this bipartisan engagement cannot be overstated,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “As this administration is attempting to evade accountability and create one of the most brazen power grabs of taxpayer funds in modern history, we applaud these two senators – a Democrat and a Republican – for speaking with one voice: the Constitution still matters. Senators Booker and Cassidy recognize what is at stake here – a dangerous scheme that would allow the executive branch to bypass Congress, distribute public money through a corrupt political rewards program, and weaken the fundamental checks and balances that protect our democracy.”
The senators’ filing comes as the Trump-Vance administration has made conflicting statements about the future of the fund. Although administration officials have suggested the fund may be withdrawn or canceled, President Trump recently stated publicly that the fund has not been abandoned. The senators argue that the threat remains active and that judicial intervention remains necessary to prevent unlawful distributions of taxpayer money.
The plaintiffs previously secured a temporary restraining order preventing implementation of the fund after demonstrating that taxpayer dollars could be distributed at any time through a secretive process with little transparency or oversight. The plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and lawsuit remain pending.
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, Ayesha Khan, Robin Thurston, and Skye Perryman. The senators are represented by Platkin LLP, Washington Law Group, and Democracy Defenders Fund.
