The Honorable JD Vance, the nation’s Vice President, conducted a press conference at the White House in the capital city of Washington on May 19, 2026. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance and interim Attorney General Todd Blanche encountered inquiries concerning the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" totaling $1.776 billion, designed to provide reparations for individuals asserting they were unfairly singled out during the tenure of the Biden administration.
Both notably refrained from dismissing the possibility of monetary distributions to persons who had engaged in assaults against law enforcement, encompassing the demonstrators who forcibly entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Vance asserted that applications would be assessed on an individualized basis and that "anyone is welcome to apply."
The fund, initially brought to light by ABC News the preceding week, was unveiled on Monday as a component of a resolution in Trump's $10 billion litigation against the Internal Revenue Service.
It has already sparked disapproval from legislators on both sides of the political spectrum amidst increasing apprehensions regarding the allocation of the resources and the potential for their awarding to political allies of the president.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked on Tuesday that he is "not particularly fond" of the fund.
"And I am uncertain precisely how they plan to utilize it. However, my understanding is that its announcement was recent. I fail to perceive its purpose," Thune conveyed to journalists at the Capitol.
Vance and Blanche questioned intensely regarding eligibility for payouts
During a press conference on Tuesday, Jonathan Karl, ABC News’ Chief Washington Correspondent, posed questions to Vance concerning the fund.
"Why should the citizenry be responsible for settling a $10 billion lawsuit initiated by the President of the United States, and should those individuals who stormed the Capitol building and assaulted law enforcement personnel be eligible, should they be recipients of monetary compensation? Should they derive funds from this financial resource?" Karl inquired.
Vance sidestepped a direct response, opting instead to assert that no portion of the funds would be channeled to Trump personally, his administration, or his family, while reiterating that "anyone is welcome to submit an application for it." Vance further stated that even Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, would qualify to request funds.
"I gather that everyone is entitled to apply for this. I mean, you possess eligibility, albeit I presume you harbor no intention to apply, nor do you believe you merit funds from this resource. Consequently, is it not equally straightforward to declare that individuals who perpetrated assaults on police officers should not be furnished with taxpayer funds from this financial pool?" Karl persisted.
"Well, look, Jon, our objective is not to furnish funds to individuals who assaulted a police officer. Our aim is to provide compensation – or rather, not provide funds – but to compensate individuals who were subjected to excessive legal action, those who were unfairly treated by the judicial system,” Vance clarified.
Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks during a press briefing held in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on May 19, 2026, situated in Washington.Heather Diehl/Getty Images
During a hearing on Capitol Hill earlier on Tuesday, when confronted with the matter of whether persons who had attacked Capitol Police officers would be eligible for remuneration, Blanche responded in a similar vein, asserting, "Any person within this nation possesses the entitlement to apply if they hold the conviction of being a casualty of weaponization."
Blanche refrained from committing to the establishment of a directive that prohibits the distribution of funds to any individual who assaulted police officers, indicating that the commissioners responsible for overseeing the fund would be charged with the task of determining eligibility.
"But why not specifically address this issue of violent acts, convictions for violent acts against police officers? Do you believe that they should receive compensation subsequent to being convicted of violent actions?" Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley questioned the interim Attorney General.
"My personal sentiments are immaterial, senator," Blanche responded.
Blanche was also questioned regarding whether he would exclude specific individuals from eligibility for payments, specifically members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys organizations. The interim Attorney General reiterated that every individual has the right to apply.
"The commissioners will institute regulations, I am confident. The formulation of these regulations is not within my purview; it falls to the commissioners. … And whether an individual affiliated with the Oath Keepers, as you just mentioned, applies for recompense is a matter of — any person in this country is entitled to apply," Blanche stated.
Blanche Declines to Identify Commissioners, Asserts the Existence of 'Full Transparency'
The acting Attorney General endeavored to draw a parallel with an initiative established during the Obama administration, designed to facilitate the resolution of claims brought forth by Native Americans who alleged widespread mistreatment at the hands of the government.
He contended that the fund would not be exclusively employed to compensate proponents of the administration.
"It is not restricted to Republicans, … it is not confined to weaponization under the Biden administration, it is not in any manner, scope, or form limited to January 6 or to Jack Smith," Blanche stated during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. "There are no limitations imposed upon the claims."
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen strongly criticized Blanche for endeavoring to compare the $1.776 billion fund to the Obama-era endeavor for Native Americans.
Van Hollen emphasized that the specific fund had secured endorsement from a federal judge, whereas Monday’s announcement lacked any judicial involvement or authorization.
When confronted with inquiries pertaining to eligibility for potential disbursements, Blanche informed lawmakers that he would "pledge" to "ensure that the commissioners are executing their responsibilities effectively."
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche provides testimony during a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, which convened on Capitol Hill on May 19, 2026, in Washington.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Nevertheless, Blanche refrained from naming the individuals who would comprise the five-person commission, nor did he disclose whom he would nominate.
He further indicated that he possesses "no knowledge" as to whether Trump would proffer suggestions.
Blanche likewise asserted that the fund would be governed by "full transparency," subject to certain stipulations.
During an exchange with Democratic Senator Chris Coons, Blanche was questioned regarding whether disbursements from the $1.776 billion would be subject to public disclosure.
Blanche stated that he desired to exercise "caution" in his response, given privacy statutes that might preclude the Justice Department from divulging certain information; however, he otherwise indicated that there would be "full transparency" through regularly quarterly reports to be released by the department concerning the commission’s actions.
"The rationale for my circumspect approach in answering lies in the presence of existing statutes pertaining to privacy, which might potentially impede the complete public disclosure of some of the information collected by the commission," Blanche explained. "Beyond that stipulation, full transparency will be observed, and I assure you that beyond the laws that govern privacy and privileges and similar considerations."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com