Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche killed a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” Sunday — ending a Republican Senate standoff and moving his confirmation vote back on track.
The fund’s termination appears to have satisfied two GOP holdouts who’d been blocking Blanche’s nomination: Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
A Cornyn spokeswoman confirmed Sunday the Justice Department reached a deal with the senator, clearing the way for Blanche when the Senate Judiciary Committee votes Tuesday. Tillis hadn’t publicly commented on the agreement as of Sunday night but is expected to back Blanche now that Cornyn has.
“Sen. Cornyn has reached an agreement with the Department of Justice, which will be issuing a formal order permanently terminating the anti-weaponization fund.”
Republicans need every member of the committee to vote yes Tuesday to overcome unified Democratic opposition. An earlier vote was postponed after Cornyn and Tillis demanded written commitments before moving forward.
Blanche met those demands by scrapping the fund entirely and clarifying that tax protections in President Trump’s IRS settlement apply only retroactively — not to future filings.
The Justice Department said the fund never became operational. No members were appointed. No money changed hands. No claims process existed. No payments were ever made.
The acting AG addressed the agreement directly on X Sunday.
“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. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement.”
Blanche’s order rescinded the May 18 directive that established the fund. Cornyn and Tillis had pushed for written assurances after Trump kept voicing support for the idea publicly — and after lawmakers raised alarm that people convicted in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot could have been eligible for payouts under the original plan.
Tillis voiced sharp frustration Saturday before the deal came together, accusing Trump of intending to “resurrect the payout pot” through a new fund or by pushing Congress toward a bill most Senate Republicans opposed.
“It’s unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal,” Tillis said at the time. “Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday.”
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since taking over for Pam Bondi in April. Senate Republicans are hoping to push his nomination through before the end of the week.
The Tuesday vote will be the critical test of whether the agreement holds — and whether Blanche finally secures the confirmation that’s been stalled for weeks.
My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions. We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement. The… pic.twitter.com/U6hs15kw2D
— Acting AG Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) August 3, 2026
