Blanche Terminates Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund for Political Allies Following GOP Senator Pressure on AG Nomination

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded a $1.8 billion fund designed to compensate President Donald Trump’s political allies late Sunday, following weeks of negotiations with two Republican senators who had obstructed his nomination to lead the Justice Department. The decision removes a cornerstone initiative that would have provided compensation through the administration’s anti-weaponization agenda. Blanche’s move came as pressure mounted from GOP lawmakers threatening to derail his confirmation process.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s office confirmed the agreement Sunday evening, with the senator among those who had blocked Blanche’s nomination progress. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, the other Republican senator involved in the negotiations, offered no immediate statement regarding the arrangement. The two lawmakers had leveraged their positions to force the administration’s hand on the sensitive matter.

Blanche released a statement on X indicating his office had engaged in extended discussions with committee members and senators over several weeks to resolve their objections. He characterized the talks as conducted in good faith, framing the order as the culmination of those efforts. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche’s attorney general nomination Tuesday.

The rescinded order carried additional implications beyond eliminating the compensation fund, as it also narrowed immunity protections for Trump and his family members regarding tax audits. The narrower scope represented a significant concession to the senators who had questioned the fund’s scope and implications.