House GOP Skips on Defunding Trump Special Counsel in Spending Bill

The Appropriations Committee unveiled its $78 billion Justice and Commerce spending bill that includes almost $1 billion in cuts to the Justice Department.

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to members of the media at the Department of Justice building in Washington on Aug. 1, 2023. Saul Loeb/AFP

The House GOP has stopped short of halting the funding of the activities of special counsel Jack Smith, at least for the moment.

The House Appropriations Committee released a bill on June 25 to fund both the Justice and Commerce departments. Republicans have repeatedly accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) of being “weaponized” to target conservatives and, in particular, former President Donald Trump. The attorney general has pushed back against such claims.