What the sources establish
DOJ announced the fund in May as part of a settlement of a tax-disclosure lawsuit brought by Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization against the IRS and Treasury. It was intended to compensate claimed victims of government weaponization. Critics questioned whether it would favor Trump allies. [1][6]
Blanche said in June the fund would not proceed. An August report described a formal rescission and a separate clarification of the settlement’s tax-audit protections. [2][3]
A September 4 order in Floyd v. DOJ granted discovery requests in part and denied them in part. The one-page order refers to reasons stated at the hearing; it is not a final merits judgment. [4]
On September 11, IRS and Treasury filed a notice appealing the Southern District of Florida’s July 13 order to the Eleventh Circuit. The two-page notice identifies the order being appealed but does not specify the relief sought or state that the rescinded fund will return. [7][8]
The other side of the record
DOJ defended compensating people it said were improperly targeted. Blanche subsequently said the fund never began operating and would not return. [2][5] The September 11 appeal notice contains no new statement from Blanche and does not withdraw that position. [7]
What this does not establish
The announced amount is not money shown to have been paid out. Rescinding the fund did not itself resolve every challenge to the associated IRS settlement. The September 11 notice concerns the July order in the Florida IRS-settlement case; it does not itself revive the fund. Current audit-protection terms require the underlying amended documents. [3][7]
Key dates
Check the record yourself
A source link may require a subscription. A news report about a filing is labeled as reporting; it is not presented as the filing itself.
- ReportingPublished: May 18, 2026Fund announcement and criticism ↗
Associated Press
- ReportingPublished: Jun 2, 2026Blanche announces abandonment of fund ↗
Associated Press
- ReportingPublished: Aug 3, 2026Formal rescission and tax-audit clarification ↗
The Wall Street Journal
- Primary · court orderPublished: Sep 4, 2026Floyd v. DOJ, discovery order, ECF 158 ↗
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- ReportingPublished: Sep 5, 2026Continuing litigation and Blanche’s response ↗
The Guardian
- Primary · court orderPublished: Jul 13, 2026Trump v. IRS, July 13 order, ECF 106 ↗
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- Primary · notice of appealPublished: Sep 11, 2026IRS and Treasury notice of appeal, ECF 129 ↗
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- ReportingPublished: Sep 11, 2026DOJ appeal and unresolved scope ↗
Democracy Docket