Todd Blanche Scraps $1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund in Senate Deal

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday officially terminating the Trump administration's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund". The decision concludes weeks of intense negotiations and political gridlock with key Republican senators who had threatened to block his nomination to lead the Department of Justice permanently. The standoff centered on the fund, which was originally established under a May 18, 2026, IRS lawsuit settlement. It was intended to compensate individuals who alleged they were unfairly targeted by federal agencies. However, the proposal faced heavy bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill over fears that its broad eligibility criteria could allow financial payouts to individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, withheld their support and threatened to vote against Blanche's confirmation unless the Justice Department provided a binding written guarantee that the fund would be permanently canceled. In a post on the social media platform X, Blanche announced that he and his team had concluded good-faith discussions with lawmakers, prompting the formal release of ger cancellation order. The document explicitly states that the May 18 order establishing the fund is rescinded and holds no force or effect. Furthermore, the order confirms that no members were appointed, no money was transferred, no claims process was established, and no payments were disbursed. In a separate statement accompanying the order, Blanche clarified that tax audit protections resulting from the settlement applied strictly on a retroactive basis, addressing additional concerns raised by Senator Cornyn r