Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issues order rescinding "anti-weapo…

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order on Sunday evening rescinding a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate allies of former President Donald Trump, a move that followed weeks of negotiations with Republican senators blocking his nomination to lead the Justice Department. The decision, announced hours before a scheduled Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche’s confirmation, aimed to address concerns raised by Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had refused to support Blanche unless the fund was formally terminated.

The order, which cited the May 18, 2026, directive establishing the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” stated that the initiative “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.” It emphasized that no funds had been transferred, no claims processed, and no members appointed to administer the program, despite lawsuits challenging its legality. The document also clarified that a separate provision of the settlement—granting Trump and his family retroactive tax audit immunity—would not extend to future filings. “This Order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund,” the text read.

Cornyn and Tillis had demanded written assurances that Trump would abandon the fund, which critics labeled a “slush fund” to reward political allies with taxpayer money. The senators’ objections delayed Blanche’s confirmation vote, originally scheduled for Thursday, until Tuesday. A spokesperson for Cornyn confirmed the agreement, stating the senator had reached a deal with the Justice Department on the fund’s termination and the tax immunity clause. Tillis, however, did not immediately comment on the resolution.

Blanche, who has served as Trump’s defense attorney in criminal cases, faced bipartisan scrutiny over the fund’s potential to compensate individuals linked to the 2021 Capitol attack. At a June hearing, he testified that the initiative “was never moving forward,” a claim echoed in the order. However, Cornyn and Tillis insisted on written confirmation, citing the settlement’s requirement for mutual agreement to alter its terms. “Has there been a written agreement of the parties to modify the settlement fund?” Cornyn asked during a July hearing. Blanche responded, “No, the settlement fund is just not moving forward.”

The fund’s fate had been in legal limbo since May, when a federal judge temporarily blocked it amid lawsuits. The Justice Department later argued in court filings that the program was moot, but judges remained skeptical. Trump, meanwhile, threatened to revive the initiative if Cornyn and Tillis blocked Blanche’s nomination. On Saturday, he warned on Truth Social that he would “push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill” passed if the senators refused to endorse Blanche, despite his own claim that the fund was “dead.”

The rescission came as Blanche sought to secure his permanent appointment, a goal complicated by Trump’s public defiance. The president’s attorneys also notified a court of their intent to appeal a judge’s ruling that criticized the settlement as self-dealing, with one judge referring a Trump lawyer for potential disciplinary action. Blanche has denied any wrongdoing, stating he disagrees with the court’s “insinuations” about his role.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Tuesday vote now hinges on whether Cornyn and Tillis will support Blanche’s confirmation. While Cornyn’s office signaled approval, Tillis’s stance remained unclear. The outcome could shape the Justice Department’s direction under Blanche, who has prioritized Trump’s agenda since assuming the acting role in April. His actions underscore the fraught intersection of legal, political, and personal loyalties in the ongoing battles over Trump’s legacy and the administration’s priorities.