Why Trump’s $1.776B DOJ fund is raising alarms

<p>A new $1.776 billion Justice Department fund is raising big questions — about who could qualify and how the money might be used. The “anti-weaponization fund” stems from a settlement tied to a $10B lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the IRS. The DOJ says it’s meant to compensate people who were unjustly targeted by Justice. But the details leave key questions unresolved. Could some January 6 defendants be eligible? What role will a commission play in deciding payouts? And what does this mean for the Justice Department’s independence? USA TODAY Justice Correspondent Aysha Bagchi breaks down what we know — and what remains unclear.</p><p>Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to <a href="mailto:podcasts@usatoday.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcasts@usatoday.com</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Episode transcript <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/22/could-jan-6th-rioters-benefit-from-trumps-doj-fund/90204559007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">available here.</a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>