What Happened
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday, August 2, 2026, terminating President Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. This action directly followed weeks of intense negotiations with two Republican senators, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had been blocking Blanche's nomination to become the permanent Attorney General. A spokeswoman for Senator Cornyn confirmed the agreement, which precedes a critical Tuesday confirmation vote for Blanche in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The fund, intended to compensate political allies who believed they were unfairly prosecuted, had drawn bipartisan outrage, particularly over the possibility of payments to individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Blanche had previously stated at a June hearing that the Justice Department would not proceed with the fund, but Senators Cornyn and Tillis demanded a written commitment, especially as President Trump continued to publicly support the initiative.
The order released by Blanche on Sunday night also clarified and limited a separate provision of a settlement from the president's lawsuit against the IRS. This provision had granted broad immunity for Trump and his family from tax audits. The new deal specifies that this tax audit immunity applies only retroactively to claims open at the time of the settlement, explicitly not protecting the president from future tax filing examinations. This move by Blanche, a former defense lawyer for Trump in his criminal cases, marks a significant concession to secure his confirmation, despite President Trump's repeated public insistence that the fund should proceed and his threats to withdraw Blanche's nomination if the senators did not relent.
What the Evidence Establishes
The evidence establishes that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded the May 18, 2026, order establishing the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. This rescission was a direct condition for securing the votes of Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General. The Washington Times reported on August 3, 2026, that a spokeswoman for Senator Cornyn confirmed the deal. The Justice Department's accompanying statement explicitly noted that
Where the Accounts Conflict
While both The Hill and The Washington Times agree on the central fact of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinding the Anti-Weaponization Fund, a key conflict emerges regarding President Trump's direct involvement and stance during the negotiations. The Washington Times explicitly states that
Context and Stakes
The rescission of the Anti-Weaponization Fund and the subsequent clarification of Trump's tax audit immunity carry significant political and legal stakes. For Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, securing confirmation as Attorney General is paramount, and these concessions demonstrate his willingness to navigate congressional opposition, even when it conflicts with President Trump's stated desires. His aggressive pursuit of the administration's agenda since being elevated to the top post after Pam Bondi's firing in April, due to Trump's frustration with her performance, underscores the high-stakes nature of this confirmation. The fund itself had become a lightning rod, drawing bipartisan outrage over its potential use to compensate individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, which many viewed as an improper use of Justice Department resources and a politicization of justice.
For Senate Republicans, particularly those facing reelection in the 2026 midterms, President Trump's actions and rhetoric are increasingly seen as a political liability. The Hill reported on August 3, 2026, that GOP senators view Trump's
What to Watch Next
The immediate focus will be on the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation vote for Todd Blanche, scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026. With Senators Cornyn and Tillis having secured their demanded written commitment, their votes are now expected to be in favor of Blanche, likely ensuring his passage through the committee. Following this, the full Senate will need to vote on his nomination, where the dynamics of broader Republican support, potentially influenced by President Trump's public reactions, will be critical. President Trump's response to Blanche's order, particularly after his previous threats to pull the nomination, will also be closely monitored. His social media platforms will likely be the primary venue for any immediate reaction, potentially signaling his future relationship with his newly confirmed Attorney General.
Beyond the confirmation, the legal challenges surrounding the settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS will continue. Trump's attorneys notified a court on Friday, August 1, 2026, of their intent to appeal a judge's scathing ruling that characterized the settlement as an
Bottom Line
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally terminated President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and clarified the scope of Trump's tax audit immunity in a direct concession to secure his confirmation as Attorney General. This move, made under pressure from Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, resolves a significant hurdle for Blanche's nomination, which is now expected to proceed to a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The decision highlights the growing tension between President Trump's political agenda and the pragmatic needs of Senate Republicans, particularly those facing electoral challenges in the 2026 midterms. The fund's rescission also addresses bipartisan concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department and the potential use of public funds for politically motivated compensation. President Trump's public reaction and the ongoing legal challenges to the IRS settlement will be key indicators of the long-term implications of this development.
DECLASSIFIED SOURCE: The Hill - News (via Real-time Signal Upgrade)
stop acting like this is some massive victory when the $1.8 billion was never actually going to be spent anyway.
The headline frames this as a strategic concession for confirmation, but the actual order targets the specific disbursement mechanism for the $1.8 billion fund rather than the fund itself. This suggests the money isn'...
Cutting that $1.8 billion fund should provide some relief for defense contractors who were worried about budget shifts, but do you think this pivot will actually settle the confirmation battle with Cornyn and Tillis?