In an effort to secure a confirmation vote to head the Department of Justice (DOJ), Acting Attorney General (AG) Todd Blanche has formally rescinded the controversial $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” (“Fund”).
AG Blanche’s decision comes after members of the Senate Judiciary Committee – Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) – postponed that interim director’s confirmation vote.
Blanche Confirms "Fund's" Confirmation
“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions. We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement,” AG Blanche wrote on X.
“The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress,” Blanche added.
Sens. Cornyn & Tillis Respond
Following Blanche’s confirmation of the “Fund’s” demise, both Sens. Cornyn and Tillis released a joint statement confirming their hopes to move forward with the vote.
In the statement, both Sens. expressed their relief for the fund’s termination as well as “a binding written order that the audit settlement is limited to the plaintiffs and the scope does not extend beyond the defendants in the lawsuit, the [Internal Revenue Service (IRS)] and the Treasury.”
“We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon,” Sen. Tillis wrote on X.
Fund's Origins
On May 18, 2026, the DOJ announced the “Fund” as part of a settlement agreement with the Trump family – President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization – after they sued the IRS in early 2026 for failing to prevent leaks of President Trump’s information during his first term.
The day after, the DOJ allegedly secretly published a one-page document containing an added stipulation which “FOREVER BARRED” the IRS from "prosecuting or pursuing any and all claims" against President Donald Trump, his family, or his businesses based on past tax concerns.
