June 2, 2026 - Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s OutFront with Erin Burnett to cast doubt on reports that President Trump and his administration are abandoning their $1.776 billion politically-directed slush fund, cautioning that the retreat was only ‘tactical’ and ‘temporary’. 

Schiff also called out Senate Republicans for waiting until election season to seek more independence from President Trump, recognizing that their own voters and the American people are struggling under the president’s economy. 

Earlier today, Schiff and Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced legislation that would shutter President Donald Trump’s so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund and prevent taxpayer dollars from being paid to the President or his allies, including those convicted of crimes or those related to the insurrection on January 6, 2021.

Key Excerpts:  

On the Trump Admin’s claim that slush fund is over:  

[…] I think this is a tactical retreat. He wanted this to be part of the reconciliation bill that we’re taking up this week, which is really supposed to be focused from the Republican point of view on more billions for ICE and CBP, but it was weighted down first by a billion for the ballroom and then by 1.8 billion for a slush fund. So, I think this is just Trump saying, ‘okay, I’m not going to include in this bill, but I’m not giving up on this idea.’ I think the courts also helped force his hand, at least temporarily. The courts putting a pause on this. But this is the most brazen act of self-dealing corruption we have seen yet. At a time when, as your last clip demonstrated, the economy is really struggling, people are struggling, the cost of living is way too high, and they want, the American people want the president, Congress to be focused on that, not enriching himself and his cronies. 

On Republicans’ willingness to stand up to President Trump:  

I do think as we get closer to the midterms and as Republicans start to fear their own voters more than they fear the president, you will see more independence. But I don’t think we’re seeing a seismic shift. I also wouldn’t overstate Speaker Johnson’s role in at least temporarily putting a pause on the slush fund. Johnson has been nothing but a rubber stamp for Donald Trump. I think hearing Senate Republicans speak out, and not just privately, which we’ve heard many times in the past, but publicly, and talk about what a shameful and stupid political exercise this is. I think that was far more responsible for this tactical retreat. I would like to think Republicans are at a sea change, but we have been disappointed so many times in the past. So, we’ll see. The time will tell.  

Source: Senator Adam Schiff