A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the White House from moving ahead with a $1.8 billion compensation package that critics have denounced as a "slush fund" for President Donald Trump's political allies.

"A party’s decision to file a frivolous lawsuit for the sole purpose of forcing a settlement may qualify as such an improper purpose."

A federal judge has temporarily blocked any payouts from the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” settlement fund.

A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for the Republican president's allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government, halting its formation or any potential payouts for at least the next two weeks. U.S. District Judge…

The fund has generated a fierce backlash since it was announced last week, with even Republicans pressing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over the eligibility considerations.

Todd Blanche has moved quickly as acting U.S. attorney general to please the man whose face now adorns the exterior of the Justice Department's Washington headquarters: President Donald Trump.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams asked Trump’s lawyers to respond to a call for her to explore the deal that led to the $1.8 billion fund.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams asked Trump’s lawyers to respond to a call for her to explore the deal that led to the $1.8 billion fund.

US District Judge Leonie Brinkema also barred the government from moving forward with the fund's creation while litigation is pending to challenge it.