WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's nearly 1.8-billion-U.S.-dollar "Anti-Weaponization Fund" pending further legal review, according to media reports on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia issued the order on Thursday following a lawsuit filed last week seeking to block the fund.
In the order, Brinkema said the pause was necessary to "ensure that no funds are irreversibly disbursed" from the fund while the court considers motions challenging the legality of the program. A hearing has been scheduled for June 12.
Under the ruling, the Trump administration is barred from taking further action, including "the transferring of money to the Fund; the consideration of any claims submitted to the Fund; and the disbursing of any funds from the Fund."
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of the fund on May 18.
According to the Justice Department, the fund was established by the attorney general to create a systematic process to review and address claims from individuals whom the Trump administration says suffered from "weaponization" and "lawfare." ■