WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) joined colleagues in introducing the Drain the Slush Fund Act, a bill in the U.S. House led by Congressman Jason Crow to permanently block the Trump Administration from using taxpayer dollars to finance their slush fund. This bill would also prevent future abuse of the Department of Justice’s Settlement Fund by banning any settlements or payments stemming from a claim or lawsuit filed by a President or Vice President.
“We will not stand by while President Trump attempts to usurp American taxpayer dollars for corrupt presidential payouts and backwards backdoor deals,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “This commonsense bill is mission-critical to ensuring that public funding actually benefits the American public — not the President’s cronies and criminal allies.”
Also joining Goodlander and Crow in helping introduce the bill are Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH). The lawmakers previously appeared in their Don’t Give Up the Ship video reminding servicemembers to follow the law and uphold their oaths to the Constitution, and like him, were subjected to an intimidation campaign by the Trump Administration for it. This bill was also introduced in the Senate by Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
“Donald Trump built a slush fund to give your tax dollars to cop beaters & convicted criminals,” said Congressman Crow. “While working families pay more for gas, groceries, and healthcare, he wants to give your hard-earned money to Tina Peters & the Proud Boys. It’s disgusting, Americans deserve better, and Congress must stop this from ever becoming a possibility.”
“Donald Trump’s slush fund is one of the most brazenly corrupt schemes we’ve ever seen from a U.S. President. As Republicans return to Washington to provide further funding for this and other mistaken priorities, we’re going to hold them accountable, and force a vote on this language to shut down the slush fund once and for all. Americans see the cost of this corruption coming out of their own pockets. And as Senators who have actually seen their government weaponized against them, we want to make it clear: we will not allow a single payout from this so-called weaponization fund to be paid,” said Senator Schiff.
“Americans are struggling to make ends meet and Trump wants to use taxpayer money to pay off his friends and allies. The president’s slush fund is a $1.7 billion theft in broad daylight to benefit people like the criminals who attacked Capitol police officers on January 6th,” said Senator Kelly. “The administration’s corruption is hurting hardworking families, so we’re stopping it in its tracks.”
“From his ballroom, to his son’s crypto currency, to insider stock trading and selling pardons to the highest bidder — President Trump has used the federal government as a piggybank for himself and his allies. This so-called $1.7 billion anti-weaponization fund is an unprecedented misuse of taxpayer money, and it must be stopped. Our bill does just that. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are crying out for the President to focus on the economy and lowering their costs. My colleagues should join us on this bill to prevent even more corruption, and re-assert themselves as co-equal branch of government,” said Senator Slotkin.
“While families struggle to afford groceries, gas, housing, and childcare, President Trump is focused on creating a $1.7 billion political slush fund disguised as an “anti-weaponization” initiative. This proposal is not about preventing weaponization; it is about creating a taxpayer-funded presidential slush fund under White House control,” said Congresswoman Houlahan. “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to reward political allies, punish perceived opponents, or advance any president’s personal agenda. Federal settlement funds belong to the American people and should be used to serve the public interest—not bankroll partisan schemes. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to shut down this slush fund and ensure no President can use federal settlement dollars as a political piggy bank.”
“Giving public money to cop-beaters and oath-breaking insurrectionists should have never been on the table in the first place,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I don’t trust this Administration not to do it, so I’m proud to co-lead the Drain the Slush Fund Act to put this swampy nonsense to rest.”
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