Brian Fitzpatrick

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers moved to block the Justice Department’s new $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” amid growing Republican concerns that the money could be used to compensate allies of President Donald Trump, according to a report from Politico.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., have drafted legislation to eliminate the fund and are preparing to formally introduce it, Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the effort.

The push comes just days after the Justice Department announced the creation of the fund as part of a legal settlement involving Trump and the IRS.

In a Monday press release, the DOJ said the fund would “provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.”

Under the agreement, the president, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization agreed to drop lawsuits against the IRS and federal government in exchange for the creation of the fund rather than receiving monetary damages.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the statement that “the machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American” and said the fund would allow “victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”

The fund would receive roughly $1.8 billion from the federal judgment fund and would have the authority to issue both formal apologies and monetary compensation to claimants.

But the proposal has sparked bipartisan skepticism on Capitol Hill.

Fitzpatrick told Politico that constituents “don’t want a DOJ slush fund that has not been described or explained to anybody.”

He said he sent a list of questions to Blanche seeking clarity about who would qualify for compensation.

Speaker Mike Johnson intensified concerns Wednesday when he declined to directly answer whether violent Jan. 6 defendants could receive money from the fund.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also expressed opposition to the fund Wednesday telling reporters he's "not a big fan," as some Senate Republicans explored ways to limit or block it as part of a broader immigration enforcement package.

DOJ said the fund would be overseen by a five-member panel appointed by the attorney general, with quarterly reports detailing recipients and awards.

The department also noted that any unspent money would revert to the federal government when the program expires in 2028.