Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that Democrats will launch a major effort to eliminate President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, forcing Republicans to take public votes on the controversial program.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter sent to fellow Democrats, Schumer said his party will use every available tool in the Senate to kill the fund before any money is paid out.
“This week, Senate Democrats will launch a coordinated effort to kill the slush fund before one cent goes out the door,” Schumer wrote.
The fund was created by the Justice Department following a settlement with Trump over his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS for leaking his tax information. Democrats have strongly opposed it, calling it a “slush fund” meant to pay Trump and his allies, including some defendants from the January 6 Capitol attack.
Democrats’ Strategy
Schumer outlined a clear plan. If Republicans try to pass spending bills using budget reconciliation — a process that avoids the filibuster — Democrats will offer amendments to shut the fund down. They are also prepared to fight the fund through the regular appropriations process.
“If Republicans return to reconciliation, we will be ready with amendments to shut the fund down,” Schumer said. “If they try to bury the issue, we will force them to the Senate floor.”
While Democrats are unlikely to have the votes to fully block the fund in the Republican-controlled Senate, forcing votes on the issue would give them a political weapon heading into the 2026 midterms.
New Legislation Introduced
On the same day, three Democratic senators introduced a bill called the “Drain the Slush Fund Act.” The bill’s sponsors — Sen. Adam Schiff of California, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan — said it would prevent taxpayer dollars from going to Trump and his allies. The legislation would also ban future settlements or payments tied to lawsuits brought by a president or vice president. It would apply retroactively to January 20, 2025.
Legal and Political Pushback
The fund has faced significant legal trouble. A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked it last week after a lawsuit from a January 6 prosecutor and others. Another judge in Miami has also raised serious questions about the fund’s legality.
On Monday afternoon, the Trump administration signaled it may be stepping back from the fund. However, Schumer made it clear Democrats would not ease up.
“Trump is claiming that the slush fund is dead for now. But Democrats will not stop until it’s well and truly buried and can never see the light of day,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
He added that no “fake guardrails” or backroom deals would satisfy Democrats. “There will be no escape hatch,” he wrote.
The controversy over the fund has already complicated Republican efforts to pass legislation funding ICE and Border Patrol. Many Senate Republicans have demanded changes to the fund before supporting those priorities.
Democrats say they will continue pressing the issue regardless of any adjustments Republicans or the Trump administration make.
