Former Vice President Mike Pence has publicly broken with President Donald Trump’s administration over a controversial Justice Department compensation program, calling the initiative a mistake that should be abandoned entirely.
Speaking Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Pence criticized the Department of Justice’s recently created anti-weaponization fund, arguing that the program raises serious concerns about who could ultimately receive taxpayer-backed payments.
“Well, look, I think that the weaponization fund is a — it’s a bad idea from the start. And I would encourage the administration just to drop it,” Pence told NBC News’s Kristen Welker.
His comments came days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the government from distributing money through the fund, adding another layer of uncertainty to a program already facing political and legal scrutiny.
The Justice Department established the fund earlier this month as part of a settlement tied to a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump against the Internal Revenue Service. Under the agreement, approximately $1.776 billion would be set aside for individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted or harmed by government actions. The program also includes provisions for formal apologies in certain cases.
Critics have questioned whether the compensation structure could benefit individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Pence pointed directly to that concern during his interview.
“But let’s get rid of this fund,” he added later. “I mean, it’s deeply offensive to me that you could have a fund that could even possibly compensate people who assaulted police officers or vandalized the Capitol on January 6th. And I think that’s broadly held by most Republicans and most Americans.”
Among the figures reportedly interested in seeking compensation is Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. Tarrio was released from prison on January 21, 2025, while serving a 22-year sentence connected to his role in events surrounding the Capitol attack.
Pence’s criticism highlights the continuing political divide between the former vice president and Trump. Once close allies during their time in the White House, their relationship deteriorated after the 2020 presidential election.
The split became public when Trump pressured Pence to challenge the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory on January 6, 2021. Pence declined, maintaining that he lacked constitutional authority to overturn certified election results. The disagreement placed the two men on opposite sides of one of the most consequential moments in modern American politics.
Now, years later, Pence is again distancing himself from Trump, this time over a Justice Department fund that has sparked debate about government accountability, compensation claims, and the legacy of January 6.
