President Donald Trump has agreed to dismiss his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for a formal apology and the creation of a new $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, a Justice Department program designed to compensate Americans who say they were unfairly targeted by federal authorities.
According to officials cited in the reporting, the settlement also ends Trump’s related claims involving the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago and the Russia-collusion investigation. The administration is presenting the fund as a broader remedy for what Trump and his allies describe as government “weaponization.”
A senior official said the program is open to anyone who believes they were unfairly targeted by any administration, not just Republicans or Trump supporters. That could include people charged in connection with the events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol and even Hunter Biden, whose legal troubles and expenses have been widely publicized.
An official said the purpose is not to enrich claimants indiscriminately, but to compensate people for tangible losses such as legal fees and other costs tied to what they experienced. The official described the goal as restoring dignity and helping people recover some of what they lost. The settlement does not guarantee payment to Trump, his sons, or the Trump Organization; instead, they are expected to receive a formal apology, while any compensation claims would be evaluated separately.
The program will be overseen by five board members appointed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, with one additional member selected in consultation with congressional leaders. The president may remove board members without cause.
The board will have the authority to issue apologies, request more information, and recommend monetary relief.
Supporters of the settlement argue that the agreement reflects Trump’s long-running promise to end government abuse and politically motivated prosecutions. Trump made that case during his second inaugural address, saying the power of the state should never again be used to persecute political opponents.
A spokesman for Trump’s legal team said the president entered the settlement “squarely for the benefit of the American people,” while continuing his fight to hold accountable those who wronged Americans.
The DOJ has argued that the fund fits within existing legal authority for settlement payments, pointing to the Judgment Fund and prior claims processes as precedent. The administration says the new structure is intended to create a formal, flexible mechanism for reviewing claims from across the political spectrum.
