A $1.8 billion Department of Justice fund tied to January 6 compensation has ignited a Republican revolt so fierce it derailed a Senate immigration vote and sent lawmakers home early — with some in Trump’s own party calling the program “stupid on stilts” and a “payout pot for punks.”

Story Snapshot

• The Department of Justice (DOJ) created a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund described as compensation for individuals financially harmed by the January 6 Capitol riot, but critics say it could pay convicted rioters who assaulted police officers.
• Republican senators including Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune publicly broke with the White House over the fund, with Tillis vowing to block it and calling it fiscally irresponsible.
• Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges filed a federal lawsuit against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Treasury Department, alleging the fund is illegal.
• The political fallout was immediate: Senate Republicans left Washington without voting on a key immigration enforcement funding bill, stalling one of Trump’s top legislative priorities.

A Fund That Fractured the Senate

The Department of Justice established the $1.776 billion program, officially labeled an “anti-weaponization” fund, with a stated purpose of compensating people it says were financially harmed in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot. The fund’s creation triggered an immediate backlash not from Democrats, but from within the Republican Party itself. Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington without voting to fund immigration enforcement agencies, leaving the legislative calendar in disarray and exposing a deepening rift between the White House and its own Senate majority.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he is “not a fan of the fund” and expressed uncertainty about how the Trump administration intends to use the money. Senators Bill Cassidy and Susan Collins also voiced opposition, with Collins saying her mind remained unchanged even after a meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The intraparty resistance is notable because it is coming from sitting Republican senators, not just moderate House members in swing districts.

Republicans Draw a Line at Compensating Attackers

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, was among the most direct critics, declaring “not a dime should go to them” in reference to those who physically assaulted law enforcement during the January 6 breach. Fitzpatrick warned that paying such individuals would send a message that attacking the Capitol and assaulting police officers could eventually result in a government payout. His objection centers on both the moral signal the fund sends and the unresolved question of where the $1.8 billion is actually coming from.

Adding to the controversy, Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and other convicted January 6 rioters publicly expressed enthusiasm for the fund, viewing it as financially beneficial to themselves. That reaction has provided critics with a concrete example to point to when arguing the program rewards rather than deters political violence. Senator Tillis, who is retiring and therefore has little political incentive to hold back, called the fund “stupid on stilts” and a “payout pot for punks” in widely circulated remarks.

Officers Sue to Block the Fund

Two Capitol Police officers who were injured during the January 6 attack, Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges, filed a federal lawsuit against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Treasury Department seeking to block the fund entirely. Their legal filing alleges the program is unlawful, adding a judicial dimension to what had previously been a political dispute. The lawsuit means the fund now faces challenges on two fronts simultaneously — in the courts and in the Senate chamber where Republicans are exploring legislative restrictions.

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 full legal text of the fund, including its eligibility rules, exclusion criteria for convicted offenders, and the precise appropriations authority behind the $1.8 billion, has not been made publicly available. That information gap has allowed the debate to be shaped almost entirely by hostile characterizations and political reaction rather than a shared review of the actual governing document. Until the administration releases the eligibility framework, the central question — whether convicted rioters who attacked police officers can actually collect — remains officially unanswered, even as the political damage to Trump’s legislative agenda is already real and measurable.

Sources:

[1] Web – Backlash to Trump’s $1.8B Settlement Fund Delays GOP …

[2] Web – GOP Sen. Thom Tillis calls DOJ “anti-weaponization” fund a “payout …