Trump's Attorney General Pick Secures Senate Deal After Confirmation Battle Ends

US acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has announced an agreement with lawmakers after a weeks-long dispute over a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund that had threatened to delay his Senate confirmation process. Blanche said he had officially withdrawn the order creating the fund, addressing concerns raised by Republican senators who had opposed his nomination. The announcement came after the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on advancing Blanche’s nomination amid disagreements over the proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had said they would withhold support for Blanche until the Trump administration reversed plans for the compensation programme. The proposed fund was intended to provide compensation to individuals who claimed they had been targeted through politically motivated prosecutions. However, critics within the Republican Party raised concerns over the initiative and questioned its purpose, leading to a standoff over Blanche’s confirmation. Blanche said discussions with senators and committee members had helped resolve the concerns.

In a post on X, he said his team had held meetings with lawmakers over several weeks to address questions related to the matter. “My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche wrote. He added that the discussions were conducted in “good faith” and resulted in an update regarding the May IRS settlement. Attached to his post was a signed order officially rescinding the May 18, 2026, order that established the Anti-Weaponization Fund. The document stated that the earlier order “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.”

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The order further clarified that no such fund would exist, stating: “This Order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.” The move is expected to ease opposition to Blanche’s confirmation among Republican senators who had objected to the compensation programme. The Senate Judiciary Committee had delayed moving forward with his nomination as lawmakers sought assurances that the fund would be cancelled. Blanche, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, was appointed as acting attorney general and has been awaiting Senate consideration for the permanent position.

His nomination has become part of a broader debate over the direction of the Justice Department under the Trump administration. The dispute over the proposed fund reflected divisions within the Republican Party over how the administration should address allegations of politically motivated prosecutions. While supporters argued that individuals affected by government overreach deserved compensation, opponents questioned whether such a programme was appropriate and financially justified.

With the fund now formally cancelled, Blanche and Senate Republicans are expected to focus on moving forward with the confirmation process. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s next steps will determine when lawmakers will vote on whether to advance his nomination. The episode highlights the political challenges surrounding high-level Justice Department appointments, where policy decisions and administrative actions can influence confirmation negotiations. Blanche’s agreement with senators appears to have removed one of the key obstacles to his path toward confirmation.

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