Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has formally withdrawn President Donald Trump's plan for a fund that could have been used to compensate people prosecuted over the US Capitol riot by Trump's supporters in 2021. The move clears the way for Blanche to be confirmed by US senators to his job on a permanent basis.
Why did Blanche withdraw the fund plan?
Blanche withdrew the proposal after a political row that had left Trump's Republican Party without enough votes to confirm him. A pair of senators were not satisfied by verbal assurances from Blanche that the planned fund was dead, and their opposition had stalled his nomination.
In a post on X late on Sunday, Blanche said he had met with committee members and senators over several weeks and addressed their concerns. He said the talks had been conducted in good faith and led to the order terminating the fund.
The order says that “although the acting attorney general has repeatedly advised Congress through testimony, including under oath, as well as in written responses, that the Fund is not moving forward, and the Department has repeatedly represented to district courts that the Fund is not moving forward, today’s Order officially rescinds the May 18, 2026 Order.”
What changed in the latest order?
The new order formally ends the May 18, 2026 order that created the proposed $1.8bn “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate Trump's political allies. It also narrows the scope of another settlement provision by clarifying that tax audit immunity “applies only retroactively” to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings.
A spokesperson for Texas Senator John Cornyn, one of the senators holding up Blanche's nomination, confirmed the agreement. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis did not have immediate comment. The announcement came ahead of a Senate judiciary committee vote on Blanche, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
Why does the confirmation vote matter?
The formal withdrawal removes the main obstacle to Blanche's confirmation as attorney general, after weeks of negotiations with the two Republican senators. Blanche had repeatedly said publicly that the fund was dead, but the Justice Department had resisted confirming that in writing until now.
That reluctance had raised concerns among lawmakers that the proposal could be revived in some form, especially after the earlier settlement. With the written order now in place, senators who had been blocking the nomination have said the issue has been resolved.
“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche said in a post on X. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order.”
Key Facts
- Blanche formally ended the fund in an order issued late on Sunday.
- The proposed fund was described as a $1.8bn “anti-weaponization fund”.
- Senate judiciary committee members are due to vote on Blanche on Tuesday.
- Texas Senator John Cornyn's office confirmed an agreement; Thom Tillis had no immediate comment.
