Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has issued a formal order rescinding the controversial $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund”, eliminating a major roadblock in his confirmation process to permanently lead the Department of Justice.
The decision follows weeks of intense negotiations with key Senate Republicans, including Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, who had threatened to block Blanche’s nomination unless the fund was formally shut down in writing.
Written Order Ends Months of Stalled Negotiations
While Blanche previously testified before Congress and stated in court filings that the fund was dead, the Department of Justice had stopped short of terminating the initiative in writing. Lawmakers voiced concerns that the mechanism could easily be revived without a formal order, particularly after public comments from President Donald Trump advocating for the policy.
In a official order issued Sunday evening, Blanche clarified that the original May 2026 order establishing the fund “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect”.
“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche posted on X. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order.”
The order explicitly confirms that no members were ever appointed, no funds were transferred, no process for receiving claims was established, and no payouts were made.
Audit Immunity Scope Clarified
Beyond scrapping the compensation program, the new directive limits the scope of a separate provision from the original IRS lawsuit settlement that granted broad tax audit protections. The order clarifies that tax audit immunity for the president and his family applies strictly retroactively to open claims at the time of the settlement, ensuring it does not shield future tax filings from IRS scrutiny.
Path Cleared for Confirmation Vote
The formal rescission clears a major hurdle ahead of a key Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche’s nomination.
Originally created as part of a settlement resolving a civil dispute over leaked tax returns, the $1.8 billion fund drew fierce criticism from Democrats—who labeled it an unconstitutional “slush fund”—and met sharp pushback from GOP senators concerned over fiscal oversight and legal precedent.
With written terms now finalized, key Senate holdouts are expected to allow Blanche’s nomination to move forward to a full Senate vote.
