Acting AG Todd Blanche Rescinds $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund Following Senate Deal
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded President Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund following negotiations with Republican senators blocking his confirmation, setting stage for Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee vote on his nomination.
What Happened
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday terminating President Donald Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" designed to compensate his political allies, according to an August 3, 2026 AP News report. The move follows weeks of negotiations with two Republican senators who were blocking Blanche's nomination to become attorney general.
The order rescinds the May 18, 2026 Order establishing the fund. A spokeswoman for Texas Sen. John Cornyn confirmed the agreement late Sunday; North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis did not have immediate comment available. The announcement comes as a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche is scheduled for Tuesday (August 3, 2026).
Blanche stated: "My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions." The order clarifies that the tax audit immunity agreement "applies only retroactively" to claims open at time of settlement and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings.
Why It Matters
The anti-weaponization fund was established by President Trump on May 18, 2026, in response to what he described as damage suffered by individuals facing charges related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Trump stated regarding those who could have benefited from the fund: "This would be a reimbursement for the pain that they suffered. A lot of people like it."
The fund's termination represents a significant policy reversal and signals ongoing negotiations between the acting attorney general and key Senate Republicans. The agreement appears to be part of broader efforts to advance Blanche's confirmation, with Cornyn and Tillis having held up his nomination to become attorney general.
Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 15, 2026 (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File). The committee vote scheduled for August 3, 2026 will determine whether Blanche becomes the nation's top law enforcement official.
What to Watch
The Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Tuesday (August 3, 2026) will be critical in determining Blanche's confirmation as attorney general. The resolution of this deal could set precedents for how future administrations handle policy reversals and negotiations with congressional leaders.
The retroactive nature of the tax audit immunity agreement means it applies only to claims that were open at the time of settlement, while explicitly stating it does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings. This distinction may have implications for ongoing or future investigations involving President Trump's financial affairs.
By the numbers
- $1.8 billion: anti-weaponization fund amount
- May 18, 2026: date of original order establishing the fund (rescinded)
- July 15, 2026: date Blanche appeared before Senate Judiciary Committee
- August 2, 2026: AP article updated time (11:51 PM EDT)
- August 3, 2026: Fox News publication date
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