Senate Democrats have launched a coordinated effort to dismantle a $1.8 billion Justice Department program that critics describe as a politically motivated “anti-weaponization” fund linked to President Donald Trump’s administration.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats will pursue multiple legislative and procedural strategies to prevent any funds from being distributed, emphasizing that they intend to force votes and amendments on the issue throughout the legislative process.

According to Schumer, Democrats are prepared to use reconciliation, appropriations debates, and floor votes to block the program regardless of Republican attempts to shield it.

Three Democratic senators—Adam Schiff, Mark Kelly, and Elissa Slotkin—introduced legislation titled the “Drain the Slush Fund Act,” which would prohibit payments tied to lawsuits initiated by the president or vice president, retroactively applying to January 20, 2025.

The measure is unlikely to pass given current Senate dynamics, but Democrats argue it will force Republicans to take public positions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.The fund has already faced legal and political challenges.

A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked its implementation following a lawsuit by a former January 6 prosecutor, and a separate case in Miami was reopened after a group of judges filed a brief alleging misconduct in its creation.

The controversy has also created tensions within the Republican Party, delaying unrelated funding legislation for immigration enforcement agencies after internal briefings.Democrats insist that no adjustments or “guardrails” would legitimize the fund, framing it as an improper use of taxpayer money.Republican leaders have not yet publicly unified in response, while legal challenges continue to unfold in federal courts.