1.8 Billion Fund Riles GOP – Payout for Rioters?

A $1.8 billion Department of Justice fund meant to compensate people “harmed” by January 6 prosecutions has triggered a rare Republican revolt, with GOP senators calling it a taxpayer-funded payout for criminals who attacked police officers.

Story Highlights

The Department of Justice (DOJ) created a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to compensate individuals it claims were financially harmed by January 6-related prosecutions.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the fund “stupid on stilts” and a “payout pot for punks,” vowing to block it through legislation.
Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick declared “not a dime” should go to anyone who assaulted law enforcement officers at the Capitol.
January 6 rioters, including Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, publicly expressed enthusiasm for the fund, seeing it as financially beneficial to themselves.
Two Capitol Police officers filed a federal lawsuit against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to block the fund, alleging it is illegal.

Republicans Slam Fund as Reward for Capitol Violence

Senate Majority Leader John Thune broke with the administration publicly, stating he is “not a fan of the fund” and remains unsure how the Trump administration intends to use the $1.8 billion. Senators Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, and Thom Tillis also voiced strong opposition. Collins said her mind was unchanged even after a direct meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, signaling that administration explanations failed to satisfy the fund’s Republican critics.

Senator Tillis, who is retiring after this term, was particularly blunt. He confronted Blanche directly during the meeting and used the phrase “stupid on stilts” to describe the program. Tillis framed the fund as “irresponsible” and “beyond the pale,” warning that compensating people connected to the January 6 riot sends a dangerous message about accountability for political violence. His willingness to openly challenge the administration reflects just how politically toxic the fund has become inside the Republican Party itself.

Fitzpatrick: Not One Dime for Those Who Attacked Police

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, was among the most forceful House critics. Fitzpatrick warned that the fund effectively tells Americans that if you breach the Capitol, destroy the building, and assault police officers, you might still get compensated someday. He called it “a waste of taxpayer dollars” and stated unequivocally that not a single dime should go to anyone who physically attacked law enforcement. His background in federal law enforcement gave his criticism particular weight.

The concern is not abstract. Enrique Tarrio, the convicted leader of the Proud Boys, and other January 6 rioters publicly welcomed the fund because they viewed it as financially beneficial to themselves. That reaction alone validates the core Republican objection: a program framed as correcting government overreach could end up writing checks to people convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers. No published eligibility rules, exclusion criteria, or beneficiary lists have been made publicly available to refute that concern.

Officers Sue to Block the Fund

Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges filed a federal lawsuit against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Treasury Department, arguing the fund is illegal. Their lawsuit represents the clearest legal challenge to the program so far, and it underscores that the opposition is not limited to political rhetoric. Officers who were physically attacked on January 6 are now in federal court trying to prevent the same government they served from compensating the people who assaulted them.

UPDATE: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is moving to BLOCK President Trump’s $1.8B anti-weaponization fund for those WRONGLY targeted by the DOJ

“I think it’s stupid on stilts…Taxpayer dollars will compensate someone who assaulted a police officer, got convicted…and now we’re going to… pic.twitter.com/EnodJv52I9

— Charlie Ward (@_charliewardqfs) May 22, 2026

The fund also stalled a Republican immigration enforcement bill in the Senate, as members refused to move forward while the compensation controversy remained unresolved. That legislative standoff illustrates the real cost of the program beyond the moral debate: conservative priorities like border security are being held hostage to a fund that a growing number of Republicans view as indefensible. Until the administration releases the actual eligibility rules and governing documents, the political damage will continue to compound.