Blanche rescinds anti-weaponization fund for confirmation

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order on August 2, 2026, rescinding the $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' that had been established as part of a settlement between President Donald Trump and the United States — Internal Revenue Service. The fund, which was intended to compensate Trump allies and potentially Jan. 6 rioters, had become a major obstacle to Blanche's confirmation as permanent attorney general. Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis had blocked the nomination, demanding written assurance that the fund would be terminated. After weeks of negotiations, Blanche issued the order, stating that the fund is 'beyond any doubt' dead. The order also clarified that the tax audit immunity granted to Trump and his family applies only retroactively. Cornyn and Tillis subsequently announced they would support Blanche's nomination, clearing the way for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote scheduled for Tuesday. The deal resolves a standoff that had threatened to derail Blanche's confirmation, though some legal experts note the fund could potentially be reinstated in the future.