A Rare and Growing Bipartisan Chorus Is Denouncing Trump’s $1.8 Billion Plunder of Taxpayer Dollars to Give to Convicted Criminals and Political Foot Soldiers
Washington, D.C. (June 2, 2026)—As Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) backpedals from its $1.8 billion slush fund, a bipartisan chorus of Members of Congress have responded with outrage to Trump’s attempt to plunder taxpayer dollars to enrich criminals.
The slush fund has brought the Republican-led Congress to a standstill:
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is “not a big fan” of it and “wants it ‘fenced in appropriately.’”
Senator Mitch McConnell said: “So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong – Take your pick.”
Senator Thom Tillis called it “stupid on stilts,” adding “It will invariably put us in a position where your taxpayer dollars and my taxpayer dollars could potentially compensate someone who assaulted a police officer.”
Senator Bill Cassidy explained: “People are concerned about paying their mortgage or rent, affording groceries and paying for gas, not about putting together a $1.8 billion fund for the president and his allies to pay whomever they wish with no legal precedent or accountability.”
Senator Chuck Grassley: “It’s pretty clear that the president has to say very explicitly that there’s not going to be a weaponization fund.”
Senator John Curtis: “I have a lot of unanswered questions, and it’s not enough for me to have the courts push back. I just want to make sure this thing doesn’t move forward in its current form.”
Sorry, Speaker Johnson. Members of your own Republican Conference have read the details and are speaking out, too. Take a look at what they are saying:
Rep. Don Bacon: “It looks inappropriate. When you negotiate with yourself over taxpayer money, it doesn’t look right.”
Rep. Kat Cammack: “Under no circumstances would I ever support any payouts for anyone who ever assaulted law enforcement.”
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick: “It’s our job in Congress to not just sit by. We’ve got to step forward and reclaim our authority under Article I, especially when it comes to appropriations. That’s chiefly the responsibility of the constitutional authority of Congress.”
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin said: “Our GOP colleagues speaking out should join us in ensuring not a single taxpayer dollar is ever paid out from this fund by banning it outright by legislation.
“Judiciary Democrats will stay tuned when the Senate takes its first legislative step to end this scheme once and for all during a vote-a-rama. Every Senator will have to choose: stand with the taxpayers, or sign a check to convicted criminals and Trump’s private militia members.”