Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche officially rescinded President Donald Trump’s controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund late Sunday. This move follows weeks of pressure and negotiations with Senate Republicans who withheld their support for his pending attorney general confirmation hearing.
Two key Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, had been blocking the nomination until the Department of Justice provided written confirmation that the fund would not move forward. The department’s formal order now aims to settle the issue, confirming that no money was transferred, no claims were processed, and the initiative is effectively dead.
Blanche cited productive discussions with committee members as the reason for the decision. Despite earlier testimony and court representations from the Justice Department stating the fund was inactive, this formal rescission serves to eliminate lingering concerns among lawmakers. The order also clarifies that immunity provisions related to tax audit settlements apply only to claims open at the time, preventing broad protection for future filings.
This development occurs just before a scheduled confirmation vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. President Trump had previously expressed frustration with the opposition, suggesting he might withdraw the nomination and resubmit it later if the Senate bloc remained firm. The administration now seeks to move past this legislative hurdle as the confirmation process nears its final stage.