# Is there a remedy for Trump's $1.8B slush fund? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 20, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244 "2026-05-20T14:44:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/43 "2026-05-22T00:22:43Z")
For those who are aghast, take some heart. Even republicans in Congress are pushing back. > [@](#): > > Discontent over the fund contributed to senators abruptly deciding to leave town for the Memorial Day weekend rather than passing a party-line budget reconciliation bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol — blowing past the June 1 deadline that President Trump set for the bill. Some Republicans are openly eyeing ways to “kill” the fund. > **[Republicans lash out over on $1.776B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5890419-republicans-lash-out-anti-weaponization-fund/amp/)** > > Congressional Republicans are lashing out over a nearly $1.8 billion fund created by the Department of Justice (DOJ) this week to give payouts to those who claim to have been the target of a “weapo… Politically, it looks horrible for them (as does Trump’s obsession with a ballroom). I don’t think they want to be associated with this prior to the midterms - the timing is what makes it problematic, since people are dealing with increased costs of living, and this is just gluttony. Nevertheless, I’ll take opposition wherever I can find it. There’s already a bill to block any appropriations. > **[Fitzpatrick, Suozzi Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop Taxpayer Dollars from...](https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-suozzi-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-stop-taxpayer-dollars-from-funding-doj-s-anti-weaponization-fund)** ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/44 "2026-05-22T00:54:24Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > How can there be no remedy for the Trump audit immunity for eternity bit? Not a legal settlement. The IRS can go back to what they do in 2029. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > But again, is there any reason the next President can’t just overturn the decision to not audit him? Right. > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Suppose Trump files an amended tax return for 2024 that claims a $1.776 B refund. Since the IRS can no longer audit his returns, they will have to give him his refund. The IRS can simply reject a 1040X without an audit. > [@fedman1](#): > > until the SCOTUS says it’s all covered under Executive Privlege So, give us a list of what they have so ruled. AFAIK, it was a pretty niche ruling. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/45 "2026-05-22T00:59:41Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Politically, it looks horrible for them (as does Trump’s obsession with a ballroom). I don’t think they want to be associated with this prior to the midterms - the timing is what makes it problematic, since people are dealing with increased costs of living, and this is just gluttony. The other thing is that any money Trump pockets is money they themselves can’t use. It’s bad enough that even Fox News is reporting on it. That’s how you know that it’s rankling the Republicans. And Fox News points out that the GOP doesn’t like the idea of giving up that money. > **[Republicans recoil as Trump's billion-dollar DOJ 'slush fund' for allies...](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-recoil-trumps-billion-dollar-doj-slush-fund-allies-threatens-ice-border-patrol-plan)** > > Senate Republicans break with Trump over his $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, raising concerns about who gets the money and where it comes from. Full title of article: > Republicans recoil as Trump’s billion-dollar DOJ ‘slush fund’ for allies threatens ICE, Border Patrol plan Even they’re going with the angle that giving up this money to Trump is interfering with the Republicans’ own plans. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/46 "2026-05-22T01:34:44Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Unfortunately, there probably is no remedy for the part of the so-called agreement where the IRS drops audits of Trump’s taxes. I think that’s the easiest part to fix: the next administration just declares it null and void. Since it wasn’t enacted by any law it can be negated by executive order. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/47 "2026-05-22T01:56:13Z")
The next _Democratic_ administration, you mean. Whether that be in '28 or '32 or '40 or whatever. I still think we’re being awfully cute assuming the next president will be a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/48 "2026-05-22T11:29:19Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > There’s supposed to be a five member board to decide who gets what. I’m sure they’ll apply the old “One for you, one for me, one for you, two for me…” rule to any payouts. The traitors wouldn’t get any money if it wasn’t for Trump, so every cash out has to be matched by an appropriate payout to Trump in gratitude for him being the bestest president ever. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/49 "2026-05-22T15:22:47Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Politically, it looks horrible for them (as does Trump’s obsession with a ballroom). I don’t think they want to be associated with this prior to the midterms - the timing is what makes it problematic, since people are dealing with increased costs of living, and this is just gluttony. What if it’s a brilliant plan by the actual brains behind the GOP national party (there’s got to be some smart people up in there right? They can’t all be falling upwards.) - Get Trump to request this stupid slush fund, which makes him happy and occupied. This is better than him flat out losing the $10B suit, which was about to be thrown out. - Let all of the midterm candidates vote it down, to show a little distance from Trump and his bad polling. - The voters who were going to sit out the midterm now decide to show up and vote for the candidates who went against Trump on this slush fund (but voted with him on every other terrible thing) - GOP keeps the House and the Senate - Trump moves on to something else - Profit. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/50 "2026-05-22T15:27:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s bad enough that even Fox News is reporting on it. I brought this up in the “Fox News is a bunch of Lying Fucks” thread. They are not reporting on this! At least when I looked, this topic was not on their website. You know it’s bad when they have to hide major news like this from their cult. And yes, lying by omission is a thing Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/51 "2026-05-22T15:32:17Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You know it’s bad when they have to hide major news like this from their cult. Fox News is probably only a scandal or two away from starting to refer to Trump as a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/52 "2026-05-22T15:34:50Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I brought this up in the “Fox News is a bunch of Lying Fucks” thread. They are not reporting on this! At least when I looked, this topic was not on their website. You know it’s bad when they have to hide major news like this from their cult. At one time I’m sure they weren’t, but now they are. There’s even a link to it on the main page. Here is a screenshot: [![](https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-853hJen_IE3Y8EgiSSvyXoqjB288pGW02iOVOopvW3qKvDkCg5h-6dpO7V_DJZJrrnHjCyIZu59oV2we_kMG9A?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1779463959797&ts=1779463954) ](https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-853hJen_IE3Y8EgiSSvyXoqjB288pGW02iOVOopvW3qKvDkCg5h-6dpO7V_DJZJrrnHjCyIZu59oV2we_kMG9A?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1779463959797&ts=1779463954) Again, they’re framing it differently; the only problem they see is that it’s interfering with the effort to get more funding to ICE and CBP. Which is still totally reprehensible. But it shows that this move is not going over well even with his base and his own party. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/53 "2026-05-22T15:39:12Z")
They are, but as you say, they are framing it in a very slanted way, and you also have to scroll down the page to find that “news” article. But, good for them to finally mention that $1.8B slush fund. I expect Trump will want someone at Fox News fired over this. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/54 "2026-05-22T15:48:09Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I expect Trump will want someone at Fox News fired over this. I do too, and I like it because I think the more the right tears itself apart, the better it is for the country, and I also like that specifically this could interfere with his attempts to pull of this theft. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/55 "2026-05-22T15:53:17Z")
I’m extremely cautiously optimistic that this could start to turn them away from Trump. Of course, I’ve said this roughly a thousand times since 2016. Hence the “extremely”. Also, there were some on the right that actually voted to impeach him and those that remain in public offices have now done an about-face and are fully on the Trump-Train so I doubt this will really make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/56 "2026-05-22T15:54:26Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > What if it’s a brilliant plan by the actual brains behind the GOP national party (there’s got to be some smart people up in there right? They can’t all be falling upwards.) > > - Get Trump to request this stupid slush fund, which makes him happy and occupied. If they are smart, they’ll realize that nothing can satisfy a glutton, and he’s too easily distracted for this to occupy him for very long. Capitulating just feeds his greed. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Let all of the midterm candidates vote it down, to show a little distance from Trump and his bad polling. Except that Trump remains strong with the faithful, and being too distant risks being undermined and thrown under the bus. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The voters who were going to sit out the midterm now decide to show up and vote for the candidates who went against Trump on this slush fund (but voted with him on every other terrible thing) I just don’t see that as a cogent strategy. GOP republicans achieve success when their most faithful voters show up. I have a hard time believing that they’d ever consider the anti-Trump faction to be their base constituency. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/57 "2026-05-22T15:56:17Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Also, there were some on the right that actually voted to impeach him and those that remain in public offices have now done an about face and are fully on the Trump-Train so I doubt this will really make a difference. Yeah, I don’t know if I said it in this thread or elsewhere, but every time I get hopeful, I remember what happened January 6. Immediately afterward, Republicans were calling out what Trump did and vowing that there would be consequences. It seemed like that didn’t even last a week, and pretty soon just about everyone fell in line and started gaslighting the public about what had happened, insisting it was nothing, or at least that Trump hadn’t done anything wrong. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/58 "2026-05-22T15:59:38Z")
And now we are discussing “reparations” to the violent thugs that rose up against the government, wanted to kill the VP, and attacked police. The party of law & order needs to do a bit of soul searching here. Sadly, my parents and in-laws will never know about this. They watch Fox News and going by their website, this won’t be discussed. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/59 "2026-05-22T21:15:30Z")
Way back in the day, it irritated me that instead of getting a refund on my taxes, I owed money. Ronald Reagan was in office and getting his agenda put in place. Social programs were getting cut. There was news about death squads in Central America. A reasonable seeming hypothesis held that Bonzo the chimpanzee had been Reagans actual boss since discovering him at a drug store lunch counter. As a director, at the time, he was looking for fresh talent for his latest project. It turned into a life-long working relationship. I made the check out to ‘Bonzo’s Death Machine’. The bank returned canceled paper checks in those days. The first year, that check went through even though it had been torn in half and stamped multiple times with ‘Internal Revenue Service’. The second year, the IRS returned it with a form for documents returned to taxpayer. They checked the reason for ‘Other’ and wrote ‘sent to us in error’. A month or so later, I got a letter charging penalties for being late with my taxes along with a statement for penalties and interest. After a little back and forth, I finally paid what they were demanding. Do you suppose this slush fund could reimburse me for the political weaponization from the IRS? ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/60 "2026-05-23T15:45:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > [@wguy123](#): > > > > You know it’s bad when they have to hide major news like this from their cult. > > Fox News is probably only a scandal or two away from starting to refer to Trump as a Democrat. I’ll know that Trump’s grip on the Republican Party is truly loosening when two things happen: a) Republicans willing to speak out against Trump or his antics start winning primaries and b) Fox News starts “accidentally” labeling him a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/61 "2026-05-23T22:26:02Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I’ll know that Trump’s grip on the Republican Party is truly loosening when two things happen: a) Republicans willing to speak out against Trump or his antics start winning primaries and b) Fox News starts “accidentally” labeling him a Democrat. And showing all those photos from the 90s and 2000s of Donald posing with Bill and/or Hillary. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?lr=&sa=N&sca_esv=98ebbfa745a2a8ae&sxsrf=ANbL-n5uVp2vkKpi4N6pmh_azIqnBJ2J3A:1779575085061&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3ppPEReeCOS7s1VbbZz2TLsHwpSX8VU1h5wlQRdyYz8mgmyd_eZo_tiZsdW2U82hFybpERnPlcoMGz-UTCSY7M0Ebc2w0thI-F3Mp-cg1KabJcQMUGQtP-YO7jXK1JL4KxgXT9TbQ3teuC9fkBWSTMD0k7RMHquXlUghWMvDDLeIgJY3tw&q=Trump+Clinton+%22posing+with%22+-Epstein&ved=2ahUKEwiXg6_mudCUAxVkQzABHalMAYY4HhC0qAt6BAgTEAE&biw=913&bih=829&dpr=1.1&tbm=isch)** ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244/62 "2026-05-24T00:43:06Z")
Of course there is- _Vote, damnit Vote._ And Vote early and vote Democratic. Dont let the perfect get in the way of the good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-remedy-for-trumps-1-8b-slush-fund/1030244.md?page=4)