Blanche Fund Withdrawal
Acting AG Blanche rescinds $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' after senators threaten nomination.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has rescinded a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" meant to compensate Trump allies, bowing to pressure from two Republican senators who were blocking his path to a permanent attorney general post. The move was confirmed by Texas Sen. John Cornyn and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, both members of the Senate Judiciary panel, according to NBC Washington.
The fund, which grew out of a legal settlement in President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, was designed to pay people who claimed they were unfairly prosecuted. No money was ever paid out. No claims process was set up. No congressional members were appointed to oversee it.
Senators Demand Written Promise Before Backing Blanche
Cornyn and Tillis had placed holds on Blanche's nomination, refusing to support him until he killed the fund in writing. Both senators sit on the Judiciary Committee, giving them real power to slow or block a confirmation vote. Blanche had already said publicly that the Justice Department would not move forward with the fund — but that was not enough for the two senators, according to NBC DFW.
Cornyn and Tillis wanted the commitment on paper. Once Blanche provided that written assurance, the senators signaled they would drop their opposition to his nomination. The standoff shows how even members of Trump's own party are willing to use their leverage to shape Justice Department policy.
What the $1.8 Billion Fund Was — and Why It Raised Alarms
The fund came out of a settlement tied to Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. The idea was to use that money to compensate people who said the government had targeted them unfairly. Critics saw it as a slush fund for political allies dressed up as a legal remedy, according to NBC Bay Area.
Despite the large dollar figure, the fund never got off the ground. Since the settlement was announced, no oversight body was formed, no application process was created, and not a single dollar was paid out. Its rescission, therefore, has no immediate financial impact — but it carries major political weight.
Blanche's Path to Confirmation Now Clears
With Cornyn and Tillis no longer blocking his nomination, Blanche's chances of being confirmed as the permanent attorney general improve significantly. The two senators were key obstacles. Their support — or at least their neutrality — is needed for a smooth Judiciary Committee process, according to NBC Washington.
Blanche currently serves as acting attorney general. He previously worked as one of Trump's personal defense lawyers before taking the role at the Justice Department. His confirmation would make him the first of Trump's second-term attorney general picks to be fully confirmed, if the Senate moves forward.
A Rare Moment of Intra-Party Pushback on Trump Policy
The episode is notable because it shows Republican senators using their confirmation power to push back on a Trump administration initiative. Cornyn and Tillis did not object to Blanche himself — they objected to the fund. They turned his nomination into a bargaining chip to get the result they wanted, according to NBC DFW.
Such moves are rare but not unprecedented. The fund's rescission is a win for the senators. It also signals that some Republicans in the Senate are willing to draw lines around how Justice Department money is used — even when the beneficiaries are allies of the president they generally support.
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