US President Donald Trump speaks in the Cross Room of the White House on April 1, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion “counter-gun” fund appeared to be on shaky ground Monday as he continued to face opposition from his own party.
As of slow afternoon, Trump had not yet made a public announcement, but several media outlets reported that the president likely plans to divest the fund to allow Senate Republicans to advance a $72 billion immigration enforcement funding package. Policy reported White House officials conveyed the decision to Republicans on Capitol Hill on Monday, according to two anonymous sources.
Trump’s fund has sparked bipartisan resistance as concerns grow that riot defendants who attacked police officers on Jan. 6, 2021, could recover damages by claiming the law was “used” against them for political purposes.
Plenty lawsuits there was a challenge to what opponents called the “slush fund,” including from police officers who defended the Capitol that day.
Shortly after reports spread that Trump might shelve the idea, the Justice Department defended the fund on social media but said it would happen comply with a court ruling issued on Friday temporarily prohibiting the government from taking further action on the fund. The order did not address the substance of the lawsuit filed against the fund.
“The Department of Justice strongly disagrees with the Anti-Gun Fund decision presented by a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, in which the Court held that under no circumstances could the Department of Justice continue to use the recently established Anti-Gun Fund to redress the enormous abuse, harm, and hatred unjustly shown to so many people. This fund was open to anyone who was so armed, targeted, or persecuted, regardless of whether Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise, the Department will comply with the Court’s ruling,” the department’s post on Page X reads.
The Department of Justice and the White House referred States Newsroom to this post when asked whether the president would eliminate the fund entirely.
Several Republicans have strongly opposed the fund, including retiring Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who called the fund “stupid on stilts.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. abandoned plans to vote on immigration bill before the Memorial Day break as members threatened to step down unless the budget reconciliation package also includes language aimed at securing a massive pot of “anti-gun” money.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday that even if Trump says he will divest from the fund, “Trump’s promise will be worthless.”
“If Trump and the Republicans really abandon this corrupt plan, they should have no problem legally banning it,” Schumer said on the floor. “This week, Senate Democrats will be pushing legislation to ban this slush fund and make sure no president can do it again. Trump’s word is far from enough.”
The Department of Justice announced the amount of $1.776 billion fund on May 18 as a condition for Trump to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. A day later, the Justice Department issued another order a statement that Trump and his family will be forever free from government investigations, including tax audits, as part of Trump’s voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit.
