Justice Department scraps Trump’s $1.8 billion ally payout fund

The Justice Department has dropped President Donald Trump’s plan to distribute $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to people the administration deemed unfairly targeted by the Biden administration. The proposal, dubbed an “anti-weaponisation” fund, lasted about two weeks before backlash from congressional Republicans forced the reversal. Lawmakers objected that the money could reach Trump supporters, including Jan. 6 rioters, and condemned a related provision shielding Trump, his family and his businesses from current IRS audits. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ended the fund on Tuesday, but the tax-audit protection remained, drawing further criticism as Trump faces pressure over the Iran war, gas prices and weak approval ratings.