How to Apply for the Anti-Weaponization Fund (2026)

The DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund ($1.776B) is open for claims. Here is exactly how to prepare, file, and track your case before the December 15, 2028 deadline.

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How to Apply for the Anti-Weaponization Fund: Full Guide

On May 18, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the $1.776 billion DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund — the largest federal victim-compensation program in a generation. Congress authorized payment through the U.S. Treasury Judgment Fund (31 U.S.C. § 1304), which means awards do not require a separate appropriation and will be paid as soon as the independent commission issues its determinations.

This guide walks you through every step in plain English. If you were targeted by a federal agency for your political beliefs, religion, speech, or associations, you may qualify.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility (2 minutes, free)

Before you spend time gathering documents, confirm you fall into a covered category. The fund covers eight broad categories of federal overreach, including: IRS targeting of conservative or progressive groups; FBI investigations opened on the basis of protected speech or association; January 6-related prosecutions the commission determines were politically motivated; whistleblower retaliation; and more.

The fastest way to check is the free eligibility quiz — it takes about two minutes and gives you an instant result. You can also review the detailed eligibility guide or browse all eight claim types. If you are unsure, complete the quiz anyway: the quiz is conservative, and our attorneys review borderline results manually at no charge.

Key eligibility signals: a federal agency (IRS, FBI, DOJ, ATF, etc.) took action against you; the action was documented in writing (an audit notice, a subpoena, an arrest record); you suffered a quantifiable harm (legal fees, lost income, business closure, reputational damage); and the action occurred after January 1, 2017 (the presumptive lookback window, subject to commission rulemaking).

Step 2: Build Your Case File (free, no obligation)

Once you confirm eligibility, open the free secure portal and begin building your case file. The portal guides you through four sections:

• Personal narrative — Describe what happened, in your own words, in chronological order.
• Timeline of events — Specific dates and actions taken by the federal agency.
• Harm quantification — Legal fees paid, income lost, business value destroyed, emotional distress (where cognizable).
• Document upload — Agency letters, audit notices, subpoenas, financial records, legal bills.

Your case file is saved automatically. You can return to it at any time before the December 15, 2028 deadline. Nothing you enter in the portal is shared with the government or any third party until you explicitly authorize a filing submission.

Step 3: Choose a Filing Path

We offer three ways to move from a case file to a formal submission. See the comparison table in the Three Ways to File section below, or go directly to the pricing page. In brief:

• DIY (free) — Use the portal to organize your file, then file directly with the DOJ portal yourself when it opens. We provide instructions and templates at no cost.
• Starter ($199 one-time) — An attorney reviews your file for completeness, flags weaknesses, and provides a written assessment. You still file yourself.
• Standard ($1,500 + contingency) — A licensed attorney prepares and submits the claim on your behalf, attends any commission hearing, and handles all correspondence.

Step 4: Submit to the DOJ Portal

The official DOJ claims portal is not yet open as of May 2026. The department has indicated it expects to publish the portal and final claim rules in late 2026, following a notice-and-comment rulemaking period. We are monitoring the rulemaking docket daily — check Fund Status & Timeline for the latest updates.

When the portal opens, clients who have completed their case file with us will be notified immediately and we will submit in the first filing window. First-filed claims are advantaged because the fund is capped: if total valid claims exceed $1.776 billion, the commission applies a pro-rata reduction, and earlier filings may receive priority in that calculation under the proposed rules.

Submissions must include: a completed claim form (DOJ form, to be published), your supporting documents, a signed declaration under penalty of perjury, and, for Standard clients, a representation agreement. We handle all of this for Starter and Standard clients.

Step 5: Commission Review

After submission, DOJ staff conduct an initial screen for facial eligibility — roughly 30 to 60 days. Claims that pass go to the 5-member independent commission. The commission applies the "totality of circumstances" standard, meaning it considers all available evidence holistically rather than requiring proof of a single smoking-gun document.

The commission issues a written determination for each claim. If your claim is approved, payment is made directly through the U.S. Treasury Judgment Fund — the permanent appropriation at 31 U.S.C. § 1304 that funds most federal civil judgments. There is no appropriations risk: Congress has already authorized the fund. Learn more at How Claims Are Paid.

What Documents Do You Need?

The stronger your documentation, the stronger your claim. Here is what the commission will expect:

• Agency correspondence — IRS audit notices, FBI interview requests, subpoenas, civil investigative demands, indictments, search warrants, or any official document showing federal action against you.
• Financial records — Bank statements, tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, or any record quantifying your economic harm during the relevant period.
• Legal bills — Invoices or engagement letters from any attorney you retained in connection with the federal action.
• Narrative timeline — A chronological account of events in your own words, with specific dates where possible.
• Evidence of political/religious/speech nexus — Emails, social media posts, donor records, organizational membership records, or any evidence showing the federal action was related to your protected activity.
• Witness statements (if available) — Declarations from colleagues, employees, or family members who witnessed the harm.

Do not worry if you are missing some of these. The commission considers the totality of circumstances, and many claimants will have limited contemporaneous documentation. Our portal includes a guided document-gathering checklist to help you identify what you have and flag what to seek through FOIA requests or other means.

Three Ways to File

Option	Who It Is For	Cost	What You Get
DIY	Simple, well-documented claims with clear federal nexus	Free	Portal access, document templates, filing instructions
Starter	Claimants who want professional review before self-filing	$199 (one-time)	Attorney file review, written assessment, weakness flags, priority filing notification
Standard	Complex claims, large harm amounts, or claimants who prefer full representation	$1,500 + contingency	Full attorney preparation and submission, commission hearing representation, all correspondence handled

All plans include access to the secure case-file portal and eligibility assessment at no additional cost. View full pricing details →

Why Filing Early Matters

The Anti-Weaponization Fund is a capped fund. Congress authorized $1.776 billion — no more. If total approved claims exceed that amount, the commission will apply a pro-rata reduction across all approved claims. Under the proposed rules, earlier-filed claims may be advantaged in that calculation.

More importantly, the DOJ portal is not yet open. When it does open, there will be a filing surge. Claimants who have already completed their case file and are ready to submit on Day 1 will be in the first batch — those who start from scratch when the portal opens will inevitably be in a later batch.

The portal is expected to open in late 2026. The filing deadline is December 15, 2028. That leaves roughly two years — but early preparation is the single most powerful thing you can do to protect your position. Start your free case file today and be ready to submit the moment the portal opens.

For the latest on portal timing and commission rulemaking, see Fund Status & Timeline. For background on the fund's legal structure, see Anti-Weaponization Fund Explained and How Claims Are Paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to apply?

No. The DOJ portal will accept pro se (self-represented) claims. The commission is required to evaluate all claims on the merits regardless of representation. That said, claimants with complex facts, large harm amounts, or weak documentation may benefit significantly from the Standard plan, where a licensed attorney prepares and submits the claim and attends any commission hearing.

Is there a filing fee?

There is no government filing fee to submit a claim to the DOJ portal. Our portal and eligibility quiz are also free. We charge only for the optional Starter ($199) and Standard ($1,500 + contingency) service packages, which add attorney review and representation. See pricing for full details.

What if the rules change before I file?

The fund rules will be finalized through a notice-and-comment rulemaking process. Changes are possible — but the statute itself is clear on eligibility categories and the December 15, 2028 deadline. We update our guidance whenever the DOJ publishes new rulemaking materials. Claimants who have started their case file are notified automatically. Monitor Fund Status for real-time updates.

Can I file if I was pardoned?

A presidential pardon addresses criminal liability — it does not compensate you for the harm you suffered during the investigation or prosecution. The Anti-Weaponization Fund is a civil compensation mechanism, not a criminal remedy. Many pardoned individuals suffered substantial legal costs and other harm that the fund may compensate. Take the eligibility quiz or review the full FAQ for more detail on pardon-related claims.

How do I know which claim category applies to me?

The fund covers eight distinct claim categories ranging from IRS targeting to FBI investigations to January 6 prosecutions. The fastest way to identify your category is the free eligibility quiz. You can also browse all claim types with detailed descriptions of each category, or read the full explainer for background. If you qualify under multiple categories, you may file under the one that produces the largest provable harm.

Questions? See the full FAQ or Apply overview. Fund announced May 18, 2026 by Acting AG Todd Blanche. Payment via U.S. Treasury Judgment Fund (31 U.S.C. § 1304).