A federal judge had already temporarily blocked the White House from moving ahead with the program that critics had denounced as a "slush fund" for President Donald Trump's political allies.

June 2 (UPI) -- Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a congressional hearing Tuesday that the Department of Justice will not operate a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that had been criticized as a way for the Trump administration to reward its allies.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says the Trump administration is scrapping plans to create a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of the president after widespread backlash.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department was not abandoning an element of a settlement with the IRS that gave President Trump and his family immunity from tax audits.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Trump administration was scrapping plans to create a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of the Republican president after widespread political backlash and setbacks in the courts. “We are not moving forward with the fund, period,” Blanche said in response…

The court's quick kibosh on any transfers to, consideration of claims regarding, or outlays from the fund is underscored by the number of similar lawsuits and claims.