Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has successfully cleared a major hurdle in his path to permanent confirmation after securing the support of key Republican senators. According to TIME, the breakthrough followed Blanche’s decision to formally rescind the Justice Department’s planned $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund.' The controversial initiative, which faced intense bipartisan scrutiny, was initially designed to provide financial compensation for individuals the administration claimed had been unfairly targeted by federal agencies. Critics of the plan were particularly concerned that the fund could potentially be used to pay damages to defendants involved in the January 6 Capitol riots.

Republican holdouts on the Senate Judiciary Committee, specifically Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, had previously refused to back Blanche unless he provided written confirmation that the project had been abandoned. Blanche addressed these concerns on Monday by issuing a formal retraction of the May 18, 2026, order that established the framework for the fund. In his statement, Blanche emphasized that the fund never actually became operational, noting that no government funds were disbursed, no administrative processes for claims were launched, and no personnel were assigned to manage the initiative.

Following the move, Senators Cornyn and Tillis announced they were satisfied with the clarification and plan to support Blanche’s nomination during the upcoming committee vote. While the fund is now officially defunct, the possibility of future legislation remains. Blanche has previously acknowledged during his confirmation hearings that the settlement, which originated from a legal challenge against the IRS regarding tax return leaks, could still be revisited if Congress moves to establish a similar program through formal appropriations. With the opposition from his own party resolved, Blanche is now widely expected to be confirmed as the permanent Attorney General, replacing outgoing official Pam Bondi. The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to hold the final vote on his nomination this Tuesday.