Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said Democrats will move to derail President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, insisting Republicans will be forced to publicly defend the plan through a series of Senate votes.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter released on Monday, Schumer said Democrats were preparing a coordinated effort to stop the fund from being implemented.
“This week, Senate Democrats will launch a coordinated effort to kill the slush fund before one cent goes out the door,” he said.
He argued that Republicans could attempt to advance the spending package through budget reconciliation, but warned Democrats would use procedural tools to challenge it.
“If Republicans return to reconciliation, we will be ready with amendments to shut the fund down,” Schumer wrote. “If they try to bury the issue, we will force them to the Senate floor. If they try to sneak behind appropriations, we will fight them there too.”
While Democrats are unlikely to completely block the measure in the Senate, Schumer said their strategy would ensure Republicans are put on record ahead of upcoming elections, where control of Congress could hinge on a small number of competitive seats.
Meanwhile, Democratic senators Adam Schiff, Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin have introduced legislation dubbed the “Drain the Slush Fund Act” aimed at eliminating the fund.
According to the lawmakers, the proposal would prevent taxpayer money from being used for settlements involving Trump, Vice President-related cases, and payments linked to former Jan. 6 defendants. The bill would also apply retroactively to January 20, 2025.
Democrats have strongly opposed the fund, which the Justice Department created following a settlement linked to Trump’s lawsuit over the alleged leak of his tax records.
The controversy has already sparked legal challenges. A federal judge in Virginia temporarily halted the fund after a lawsuit filed by a Jan. 6 prosecutor and others, while another judge in Miami reopened related proceedings for further review.
The issue has also complicated Republican efforts to pass a broader funding bill for immigration enforcement agencies, with internal disagreements emerging after a closed-door briefing with Justice Department officials.
Schumer, however, insisted Democrats would not accept any compromise on the matter.
“There will be no escape hatch,” he said. “No fake guardrails or backroom promises to hide behind. No Justice Department announcement that makes this corruption acceptable.”
“No matter what Republicans do, we will force them to vote,” he added.
