Controversial Fund Stalls Confirmation
Trump reignites debate over $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, stalling Blanche's confirmation
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund originated from a settlement negotiated earlier this year, not a standalone new entitlement, with payments planned for individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the federal government during the Biden era.
2
Todd Blanche testified before a congressional committee that 'We’re not moving forward with the fund, period,' highlighting the Justice Department’s stance and framing Blanche as a stabilizing voice amid the debate.
3
Sen. Thom Tillis indicated that Trump’s social-media push to revive the fund signals an effort to resurrect the payouts—either by creating another fund or pressuring Congress—warning that a majority of Republicans in the Senate would oppose such a move.
4
Cornyn’s hold on Blanche’s nomination and Tillis’s political position are intertwined with broader GOP dynamics: Cornyn lost his primary to Ken Paxton after Trump endorsed Paxton, and Tillis is not seeking re-election.
President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass an "Anti-Weaponization Bill" on Saturday — just one day after declaring the controversial $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund "dead." KOAT reported the sharp reversal came via a Truth Social post, catching Senate Republicans off guard and reigniting a fight that is already blocking the confirmation of his attorney general pick.
The fund was designed to pay Americans who claim they were unfairly investigated or prosecuted by the federal government during the Biden era. KMBC reported that the about-face has deepened divisions among GOP senators, with two key Republicans now holding up Todd Blanche's nomination until they get answers.
Blanche Nomination Caught in the Crossfire
Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn are refusing to vote on Blanche until they get a written guarantee the fund is truly gone. Cornyn placed a formal hold on the nomination. Tillis, who is not seeking re-election, said bluntly that a majority of Senate Republicans would oppose any effort to revive the payments, according to KCCI.
Blanche himself tried to shut the door during his confirmation hearing. He told the committee, "We're not moving forward with the fund, period." KOAT reported that supporters see Blanche as a stabilizing voice. But Trump's weekend social-media post cast doubt on whether that promise still holds.
Trump's Friday-to-Saturday Reversal Explained
On Friday, Trump told reporters at a Cabinet meeting that he wished payments could exist but accepted that the fund was dead. He still argued Blanche should be confirmed. Then on Saturday, he posted on Truth Social urging Congress to pass a new Anti-Weaponization Bill — a direct contradiction, KOCO reported.
The shift signals a strategy change. Rather than a settlement-based fund, Trump appears to want a standalone law from Congress. Tillis warned that the Truth Social push shows Trump wants to "resurrect the payouts — either by creating another fund or pressuring Congress." Either path faces steep Republican resistance in the Senate.
Why Republicans Are Calling It a Slush Fund
The $1.8 billion figure came from a settlement negotiated earlier this year — not a new law passed by Congress. Critics on both sides of the aisle say that makes the money hard to oversee. KCCI reported that the fund drew "bipartisan backlash" over fears it could be used as a partisan pot of cash with few guardrails.
The White House and Justice Department had both signaled they would not move forward with the fund before Trump's Saturday post. That assurance satisfied neither Tillis nor Cornyn, who want it in writing. Without their votes, Blanche's path to confirmation remains blocked.
Cornyn's Political Baggage Adds More Tension
Cornyn's hold on Blanche carries extra weight given his personal history with Trump. Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over Cornyn in a primary race, and Paxton won. That loss makes Cornyn less likely to back down simply because Trump is pushing hard, according to KOCO.
Tillis, meanwhile, faces no electoral pressure — he is not running again. Together, the two senators represent a bloc of GOP resistance that Trump cannot easily dismiss. Until the fund question is resolved clearly and in writing, the Senate's path to confirming Blanche as attorney general remains uncertain.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
13
Articles
95
Reach
108
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor