Todd Blanche Rescinds Trump Fund to Secure AG Nomination

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order on Sunday, August 3, 2026, terminating a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" designed to compensate political allies of President Donald Trump, including January 6 Capitol rioters. The move follows a weeks-long standoff with Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had blocked Blanche's nomination to the permanent Attorney General position until the fund was terminated in writing.

As part of the agreement, the Justice Department also narrowed a May 2026 settlement regarding a lawsuit Trump filed against the Internal Revenue Service. The new order clarifies that tax audit immunity for the president and his family applies only retroactively and does not protect them from future examinations. While the Justice Department asserted that the anti-weaponization fund was never operational and no payments were made, Donald Trump publicly defended the fund, claiming those charged in the Capitol attack had "their lives destroyed."

Trump further threatened to seek congressional appropriations to revive the fund even if it cost him his nominee. Despite this, the deal clears the path for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Tuesday. Republican leaders aim to confirm Blanche by the end of the week, though Democrats remain opposed to the nomination.