Former US Vice-President Mike Pence has called on the Trump administration to abandon its proposed $1.8bn "anti-weaponisation fund", describing the initiative as "deeply offensive" and arguing it should never have been created.
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The fund, announced earlier this month, is intended to compensate people who claim they were unfairly targeted by previous administrations through what officials describe as politically motivated prosecutions, or "lawfare".
Pence Condemns Plan
Speaking to NBC News, Pence said the proposal was a "bad idea from the start" and expressed concern that individuals involved in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol could receive compensation.
"It's deeply offensive to me that you could have a fund that could even possibly compensate people who assaulted police officers or vandalised the Capitol on January 6," Pence said. He added that he believed most Republicans and Americans shared that view.
Pence was present at the Capitol when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election result. Rioters threatened Pence, who was evacuated to a secure location before returning to oversee the formal confirmation of Joe Biden's election victory.
Link to IRS Settlement
The fund was established by the Department of Justice as part of a settlement with Trump over a lawsuit he filed against the Internal Revenue Service after his tax records were leaked.
Under the agreement, Trump dropped the case in exchange for an apology and the creation of the compensation programme.
The proposal has drawn particular scrutiny because many supporters of Trump who were prosecuted over the Capitol attack have indicated they intend to seek payments from the fund.
According to Department of Justice figures, nearly 1,600 people faced charges connected to the riot. Around 175 were accused of using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious injury to law enforcement officers. Roughly 140 police officers were injured during the attack.
Trump later granted sweeping pardons to defendants involved in the riot after returning to office, including some who had admitted assaulting police officers.
Bipartisan Opposition
The fund has faced criticism from lawmakers in both parties.
Republican Senate leader John Thune said he was not a supporter of the proposal, while former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell described it as "utterly stupid".
Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the initiative "stupid on stilts", and Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said he planned to introduce legislation aimed at blocking it.
However, some Republicans have defended the programme. Senator Tommy Tuberville argued that many Americans had been unfairly prosecuted following the January 6 investigations.
Legal Challenge
The fund's eligibility criteria appear broad. In a memo to Republican senators, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that "tens of millions of Americans" had experienced improper government targeting and stressed that Democrats as well as Republicans would be able to apply.
On Friday, a federal judge temporarily halted the creation of the fund pending a hearing scheduled for 12 June.
In response, a Justice Department spokesperson said officials remained confident the programme was lawful and supported by legal precedent, adding that they would continue efforts to provide restitution to what they described as victims of government misconduct.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 1 June 2026
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