Blanche rescinds $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded plans for a nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” Sunday night, moving to defuse a standoff with Republican senators who had threatened to block his confirmation to lead the Justice Department permanently.

The order came two days before the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche’s nomination. Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas had said they would not support Blanche unless the administration put in writing that President Donald Trump would no longer pursue the fund.

“The Attorney General’s May 18, 2026 Order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund (‘Fund’) is rescinded and shall have no force or effect,” Blanche’s order states. “This Order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.”

Blanche announced the move in a post on X, saying Justice Department officials had worked through lawmakers’ objections.

“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche wrote. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement. The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress.”

The fund was announced in May as part of a settlement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department. NBC News reported that the settlement also shielded the Trump family from tax audits. The proposed fund was designed to compensate people who claimed they had been politically persecuted, including Trump allies.

It drew criticism in part because payouts could have extended to participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., a member of the Judiciary Committee, told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he would exclude Jan. 6 rioters from any legislation that would codify the $1.8 billion fund.

Blanche’s order said the Justice Department had previously represented that the fund was not operative. “No Members were appointed; no funds were transferred; no process for receiving claims was established; no claims were paid,” the order states. It added that “several frivolous lawsuits have been filed challenging the Fund, and at least one court has declined to dismiss those claims as moot.”

The announcement followed weeks of pressure from Tillis and Cornyn, two Republicans who have clashed with Trump in the past. Tillis has announced he will not seek re-election. Cornyn was unseated by Trump-endorsed Republican primary challenger Ken Paxton.

NBC News reported that the two senators previously said other senators shared their concerns about the fund but were not on the Judiciary Committee, meaning they could not vote on Blanche’s nomination until it reached the full Senate.

Blanche had testified before Congress that the fund was dead, but Trump on Saturday threatened to “push hard” to revive it. Sunday’s order marked the administration’s written reversal, stating that the fund “shall have no force or effect.”