Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces a crucial Senate Judiciary Committee vote while two Republican senators — John Cornyn and Thom Tillis — withhold support pending written assurances about the future of a $1.776 billion "Anti‑Weaponization Fund." Blanche testified on July 15 that the fund is "dead" and said the Justice Department could codify that position, but Cornyn insists the settlement language itself must be formally revised. The committee vote is scheduled for Thursday, and the outcome may hinge on whether Blanche secures those written commitments.
Two GOP Senators Hold Out — Todd Blanche’s AG Nomination Hangs in the Balance
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his nomination to be Attorney General, on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 15, 2026.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces a pivotal Senate Judiciary Committee vote this week as he seeks confirmation to become the next U.S. attorney general. Two Senate Republicans — Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) — have publicly said they will withhold their support until they receive written assurances about a controversial settlement provision known as the "Anti‑Weaponization Fund."
The fund, announced in May as part of a settlement between former President Donald Trump and the IRS, would allocate $1.776 billion to compensate people who say they were wrongly targeted during the Biden administration. In exchange, Trump agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax information — a disclosure tied to a former IRS contractor who pleaded guilty in 2023.
The day after the settlement was announced, Blanche — who previously served as Trump's criminal defense lawyer — signed an addendum that would bar the government from continuing audits of tax returns filed by Trump, his family or their companies. That addendum and the broader settlement prompted accusations of self‑dealing and provoked bipartisan concern that taxpayer money could be used inappropriately, including to compensate people associated with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Nathan Howard/Reuters - PHOTO: U.S. Senators vote on Capitol Hill
At Blanche's confirmation hearing on July 15, senators pressed him about the settlement language. Blanche testified that the so‑called "weaponization fund is dead" and said the Justice Department would be willing to put language on paper to ensure the fund would not proceed. But Cornyn and Tillis say they need a formal, written change to the settlement itself before they'll back Blanche.
"What I want is the written document to say the same thing he did in his sworn testimony in front of the Judiciary Committee," Cornyn told reporters, summarizing his demand that the settlement be revised to reflect Blanche's testimony that the fund is dead and that any audit immunity would be narrowly limited.
Cornyn's office has been negotiating with the administration to amend the settlement, but he says the Department of Justice has not provided a sufficient written commitment. When asked whether Blanche should assume Cornyn's vote without that written guarantee, Cornyn responded, "That is correct." Sen. Tillis has expressed similar reservations and said he is not ready to pledge his support until the requested changes are made.
What Comes Next
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche's nomination on Thursday. If Cornyn and Tillis remain unconvinced, Blanche may face a tougher path to confirmation, particularly if other senators seek written clarifications as well. The dispute centers on whether the administration will formally rescind or rewrite settlement language to match Blanche's sworn assurances.
Blanche and Senate negotiators now must decide whether to finalize written changes before the committee vote or risk losing key Republican backing and prolonging the confirmation process.
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