The US Justice Department has announced it would establish a $1.776 billion legal fund to compensate people who claim they’ve been targeted unfairly by the federal government. The plan has been met with swift bipartisan backlash, with some lawmakers calling it a “slush fund” that could line the pockets of Trump loyalists and Jan. 6 rioters with taxpayer dollars.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder joins Bloomberg reporters Chris Strohm and Erik Wasson to break down the mechanics of the fund, the Trump administration’s rationale for using it and the mounting questions around its oversight and legal grounds.

Read more: Jan. 6 Rioters Who Beat Police May Get Payouts, Blanche Says

Trump’s $1.8 Billion Settlement Fund Hits Senate GOP Backlash

Why Critics Call Trump’s $1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund an Abuse of Power

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Chris Strohm, Erik Wasson; Edited by Aaron Edwards.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe, Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Emma Munger.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The US Justice Department has announced it would establish a $1.776 billion legal fund to compensate people who claim they&rsquo;ve been targeted unfairly by the federal government. The plan has been met with swift bipartisan backlash, with some lawmakers calling it a &ldquo;slush fund&rdquo; that could line the pockets of Trump loyalists and Jan. 6 rioters with taxpayer dollars.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder joins Bloomberg reporters Chris Strohm and Erik Wasson to break down the mechanics of the fund, the Trump administration&rsquo;s rationale for using it and the mounting questions around its oversight and legal grounds.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-19/jan-6-rioters-who-fought-police-could-get-payouts-blanche-says">Jan. 6 Rioters Who Beat Police May Get Payouts, Blanche Says</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-21/gop-stalemates-on-trump-ballroom-funding-weaponization-fund">Trump&rsquo;s $1.8 Billion Settlement Fund Hits Senate GOP Backlash</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-21/trump-s-1-8b-anti-weaponization-fund-fuels-corruption-claims">Why Critics Call Trump&rsquo;s $1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund an Abuse of Power</a>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Chris Strohm, Erik Wasson; Edited by Aaron Edwards.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe, Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Emma Munger.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

Unpacking Trump’s $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/76c475dd-c4c8-4651-95dc-b457014a52fc/transcript