Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that Democrats would try to kill President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, forcing Republicans to vote to preserve the compensation money.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“This week, Senate Democrats will launch a coordinated effort to kill the slush fund before one cent goes out the door,” Schumer said in a “Dear Colleague” letter released Monday.Schumer pointed to Republicans’ plans to use budget reconciliation again to advance their spending priorities, a move that would allow Democrats to bring up unlimited amendments as the Senate considers the bill.“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.” It’s unlikely, though, that Democrats will be able to stop the fund in the Senate.They can, however, force Republicans to record their votes on the compensation money, offering a line of attack for Democrats in the upcoming midterms, in which control of both chambers is likely to come down to a handful of seats.
In addition, three Democratic senators introduced a bill to kill the fund Monday.Adam Schiff of California, Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan introduced the “Drain the Slush Fund Act,” which they said would “prevent taxpayer dollars” from being paid to Trump and his allies, including former Jan.
6 defendants.The bill, said the senators, would also ban settlements or payments stemming from suits brought by the president or the vice president.
It would be retroactive to Jan.20, 2025.Democrats have expressed opposition to the $1.8 billion fund, which the Justice Department created after Trump’s unprecedented settlement with the IRS related to his $10 billion...