Todd Blanche Wins Key Confirmation Holdouts—But Questions Over Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund Linger

Attorney General Todd Blanche has officially abolished the Department of Justice's proposed anti-weaponization fund, which aimed to compensate individuals allegedly targeted by government investigations. The $1.8 billion fund, announced in May, was created as part of a $10 billion settlement with President Donald Trump and his family in exchange for dropping a lawsuit over the release of his tax returns.

Blanche, who took over as Acting Attorney General following Pam Bondi's departure in April, stated that the fund "is rescinded and shall have no force or effect." The decision to abolish the fund came after significant criticism and two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, threatened to block Blanche's full confirmation unless the fund was officially terminated.

The DOJ confirmed that no fund was established, no funds were transferred, no process for receiving claims was created, and no claims were paid. President Trump has repeatedly threatened to revive the fund if Blanche's nomination fails, either by creating another similar fund or by pushing Congress to pass a bill that would be opposed by most Republicans in the Senate.