By Richard Rubin and C. Ryan Barber
WASHINGTON -- The Treasury Department's top lawyer resigned Monday as the government announced a controversial settlement with President Trump, according to people familiar with his departure.
Brian Morrissey joined the Trump administration last year as the president's pick to be Treasury Department's general counsel, after previously serving at the agency and at the Justice Department during Trump's first term. A former clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas, Morrissey didn't respond to a request for comment late Monday.
The settlement created a $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" that would pay people who claim they were targeted unfairly by past administrations. It could lead to payments to various Trump political allies and it will be run by a five-person commission whose members will be appointed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and can be fired by Trump.
The Internal Revenue Service, which is part of the Treasury Department, was the defendant in a case that was dropped Monday as part of the settlement. Trump, in his personal capacity, had sued the IRS for $10 billion for a contractor's illegal leak of his tax returns.
The government's settlement with Trump was signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and by Frank Bisignano, the chief executive of the IRS.
Treasury Department spokespeople also didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The New York Times earlier reported Morrissey's departure.
The Treasury Department has another important upcoming role in the settlement. It is responsible for approving the use of the government's judgment fund, a permanent, uncapped pot of money that is used to settle lawsuits.
A Justice Department memo released on Monday said the administration will provide the Treasury Department with the information needed to make the payment to the new settlement fund within 60 days.
Morrissey was a partner at law firm Sidley Austin before joining the Trump administration.
Write to Richard Rubin at richard.rubin@wsj.com and C. Ryan Barber at ryan.barber@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 18, 2026 23:08 ET (03:08 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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