Ross says the administration's payments do not "meet the statutory requirements governing use of the Judgment Fund"

Rep. Deborah Ross, leading a letter from 15 House Democrats to President Trump, the Attorney General, and the Interior Department Inspector General, wrote that the payment structure "does not meet the statutory requirements governing use of the Judgment Fund" because DOI identified no final judgment, approved compromise of a referred claim, or money-damages liability that would make the payments eligible under 31 U.S.C. Section 1304.

“The use of congressionally appropriated funds, potentially in violation of the Antideficiency Act, to pay private companies to cancel clean energy projects on the condition that they invest in fossil fuel ventures appears to be quid pro quo. ... You have furnished these reimbursements through the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Judgment Fund, which was created to pay valid judgement and settlements where the United States is the defendant. The details of these agreements make clear that your payment structure does not meet the statutory requirements governing use of the Judgment Fund: DOI has identified no final judgment, Attorney General-approved compromise of a referred claim, or money-damages liability that would make this payment eligible for the Judgment Fund under 31 U.S.C. § 1304 or 28 U.S.C. § 2414.”