Trump’s $1.8B ‘slush fund’ for loyalists has no modern precedent, presidency scholar says

President Donald Trump established a $1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals, including those involved in the Jan. 6 attack, who claim they were wronged by past administrations. Critics describe the fund as a 'slush fund' and compare it to historical patronage practices, with experts noting parallels to the 19th-century spoils system. The Department of Justice announced the 'anti-weaponization fund' in May 2026 as part of a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS over leaked tax returns.