Capitol Police Officers Sue to Block $1.776 Billion Fund

Two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, have filed a federal lawsuit to block a new $1.776 billion government fund, arguing it could financially reward individuals who participated in the assault. The legal challenge, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates a political and legal controversy surrounding the fund's creation and purpose.

The plaintiffs, Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges and former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, are asking a judge to declare the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" unlawful and prevent any payouts. Their lawsuit names President Donald Trump, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as defendants. The officers contend the fund, established without congressional authorization, violates the Constitution and federal rulemaking procedures.

The fund originates from a settlement that resolved a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his confidential tax returns. As part of that broader agreement, the government is permanently barred from auditing Trump's current tax matters. The...