Todd Blanche scraps $1.8bn fund in confirmation deal

US acting attorney general Todd Blanche said Sunday he had reached an agreement with senators and issued an order rescinding a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that had stalled his Senate confirmation.

The announcement came after the Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a vote on advancing Blanche's nomination because of his dispute with Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

Cornyn and Tillis had said they would withhold support for Blanche until the Trump administration rescinded plans for the fund, which was intended for people who say they were victims of politically motivated prosecutions.

Blanche wrote on X that his team had met with committee members and senators over several weeks and had addressed “any concerns or outstanding questions”. He said those talks led to an order and update concerning the May IRS settlement.

The signed order attached to Blanche's post said the May 18 order establishing the fund “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect” and that “there is no Fund”.

The Judiciary Committee is now due to vote on Blanche's nomination on Tuesday.

The dispute centred on a proposed settlement involving President Donald Trump and his administration over the illegal disclosure of Trump's tax records. The proposal included the $1.8 billion fund and broad protection for Trump, his family and businesses from tax audits and other government claims.

Republicans control the committee 12-10, so either Cornyn or Tillis could join united Democratic opposition and block Blanche's nomination from reaching the full Senate.

Trump had said Thursday that he had “no objection” to temporarily withdrawing Blanche's nomination if Cornyn and Tillis did not “do the right thing”. He said Blanche, his former personal lawyer and current acting attorney general, could be renominated after the senators leave office in January and would remain acting attorney general in the meantime.