Judge voids Donald Trump's 'improper' $1.8b IRS settlement that gave him immunity from tax audits

A US federal judge voided a settlement agreement between President Trump and the IRS that would have granted him immunity from tax audits and created an $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponisation' fund in exchange for Trump dropping a $10 billion lawsuit over leaked tax returns. Judge Kathleen Williams ruled the lawsuit was filed for 'improper purposes,' finding no genuine adverseness between the parties and describing the settlement as an attempt to confer immunity on Trump-affiliated entities using taxpayer funds; she also referred a Trump attorney for potential disciplinary action. The BBC article is sourced from the court ruling and includes direct quotes from the judge, Trump's legal team, and independent tax policy experts, providing substantive context about the fund's abandoned status and prior judicial opposition. Coverage from The Hill, CNBC, and CNN corroborates the core facts—the void settlement, the improper purpose finding, and attorney referrals—with consistent reporting on the judge's characterization of bad faith; watch for potential congressional action to formally nullify the agreement and any disciplinary proceedings against Trump's attorneys.