Chicago – May 18, 2026
President Donald Trump and the Justice Department have reached a settlement that ends Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns and creates a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” for claims from people who say they were unfairly targeted by the government. The fund, announced by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, will not pay Trump directly, but it may compensate some of his allies, including people linked to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, according to reports cited by ABC News and CBS News.
The Justice Department said Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization will receive formal apologies but no damages. The agreement follows Trump’s effort to withdraw the case, which accused the IRS and Treasury Department of improperly allowing his tax returns to be disclosed to media outlets.
Critics quickly raised ethics concerns, saying the arrangement could funnel taxpayer money into a politically controlled compensation process. The fund is expected to operate through a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general.
