1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

Demand for Congressional Oversight of the DOJ’s $1.8 Billion Unauthorized Fund The Department of Justice recently created a $1.8 billion fund to compensate individuals who claim to have been targeted by “weaponization” of the federal government. This fund originated as part of a settlement of President Trump’s personal lawsuit against the IRS — a serious conflict of interest. The fund was created without congressional appropriation. This is not a procedural technicality. Article I of the Constitution vests the spending power exclusively in Congress. The executive branch does not have the authority to unilaterally direct $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds. Several of your colleagues on both sides of the aisle have said so publicly. Current discussions in Congress regarding how the money will be spent misses the point—it’s illegal to begin with. Such discussion lends legitimacy to this unprecedented self-dealing by President Trump.     Therefore, I urge you to: 1. Publicly assert that this fund is unconstitutional — created without congressional appropriation in violation of Article I — and demand it be rescinded 2. Support legislation explicitly prohibiting the use of federal funds for this purpose. Congressional oversight of federal spending is a constitutional responsibility. Please exercise it. Thank you.