Key facts
- US Justice Department drops plan for $1.8 billion compensation program.
- Critics denounced the program as a 'slush fund' for political allies.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the decision.
- The initiative faced criticism from Democrats, legal experts, and Republicans.
The US Justice Department has abandoned a controversial plan to establish a $1.8 billion compensation program, which had been labeled a 'slush fund' by critics for President Donald Trump's political allies. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the decision during testimony before a House committee. This about-face represents a setback for one of Trump's most divisive second-term initiatives, which had faced significant criticism from Democrats, legal experts, and numerous Republicans. The program's purpose and potential implications had been under review.