Overview
- U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema extended an injunction on Friday, June 12, 2026, that prevents the government from creating, operating, or disbursing the roughly $1.776–$1.8 billion fund while litigation continues.
- Brinkema gave the Justice Department one week to file a sworn declaration signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, saying under penalty of perjury that the fund will not be revived.
- The government has publicly said the fund is not moving forward, but the court and plaintiffs say those statements are insufficient because the establishing order has not been rescinded and no formal commission has been appointed.
- The judge cited President Trump’s public remarks supporting the concept as a reason to doubt the fund is permanently dead, and she noted the possibility that Jan. 6 defendants or other allies could seek payouts if the program proceeded.
- Related court fights remain active in other districts, including a separate judge’s warning to the DOJ and a pending request by 35 former federal judges to reopen the underlying IRS lawsuit over allegations the settlement was a collusive ‘fraud on the court,’ which could trigger further investigation.