Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order Sunday evening rescinding plans for the Anti-Weaponization Fund. This $1.8 billion initiative, originally announced in May as part of a settlement regarding tax litigation, faced significant scrutiny from both sides of the aisle. The decision to scrap the fund follows direct pressure from Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, who previously withheld their support for Blanche’s confirmation as permanent attorney general.
The order confirms that no money was transferred, no claims process was established, and no payments were made. By issuing this documentation, the Department of Justice aims to render ongoing legal challenges moot. The order serves as a final statement that the fund does not exist and holds no legal effect. This move appears intended to clear a path for Blanche’s upcoming confirmation vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Beyond addressing the fund, the order clarifies the status of audit immunity provisions tied to the original settlement. It specifies that protection from tax audits applies only to claims open at the time of the agreement and does not extend to future tax filings. This distinction addresses concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the breadth of the settlement's impact on executive oversight.
The move arrives after President Trump suggested he might push for the fund's revival if his nominee did not secure confirmation. Despite that rhetoric, the Justice Department is moving forward with the written rescission to satisfy the requirements set by Senators Cornyn and Tillis. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche’s nomination this coming Tuesday.