A federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia issued a temporary injunction on May 29, 2026, stopping the creation of a $1.8 billion payout plan linked to President Trump. The ruling prompted House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D‑CT‑03) to issue a statement sharply criticizing the effort.
DeLauro called the proposal "flagrantly corrupt," arguing it would divert taxpayer funds to political allies and to individuals convicted of assaulting police officers and participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. She said the administration’s push to fund those criminals while slashing domestic programs for working families was obscene and demanded the scheme be abandoned.
The injunction follows a unanimous vote by Republican members of the Appropriations Committee to approve the payout, despite Democratic opposition. DeLauro cited Congressman Mike Levin’s failed amendment and warned that further legal and congressional scrutiny is likely as the dispute develops.
