By Emmanuel Bobby
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Sunday evening that the Justice Department has officially rescinded the controversial $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, ending weeks of negotiations between the Trump administration and Senate Republicans who had opposed the program. The decision comes just days before the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general on a permanent basis.
In a statement posted on X, Blanche said he and his team had spent several weeks meeting with senators and members of Congress to resolve concerns surrounding the fund and other provisions included in a legal settlement reached earlier this year.
“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.”
Blanche attached a signed order formally revoking the program, stating that the attorney general’s May 18, 2026, order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.”
The order further emphasized the administration’s position, declaring that “this order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no fund,” effectively ending speculation over whether the program remained active despite previous public statements.
The announcement arrives at a politically significant moment, with Blanche facing a key confirmation vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. His nomination had encountered resistance from several Republican senators who questioned both the legality and purpose of the fund.
The Anti-Weaponization Fund originated from a settlement resolving a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service. The broader agreement included provisions affecting IRS actions involving Trump and members of his family, while also creating the multibillion-dollar fund. Critics argued that the settlement lacked transparency and raised concerns that individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot could ultimately qualify for financial payouts under its provisions.
Among the most vocal Republican critics were Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Both lawmakers indicated that their support for Blanche’s confirmation depended on the administration permanently abandoning the fund.
The two senators have had strained relationships with President Trump in recent years. Tillis announced earlier that he would not seek another Senate term, while Cornyn lost his Republican primary to Trump-backed challenger Ken Paxton. Although neither senator serves on the Judiciary Committee and therefore could not participate in Blanche’s committee confirmation vote, both publicly stated that other Republican senators shared their concerns regarding the settlement.
During previous congressional testimony, Blanche maintained that the fund was effectively inactive. However, uncertainty remained after President Trump stated Saturday that he intended to “push hard” to revive the program, creating confusion about the administration’s long-term intentions.
On Sunday, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., a member of the Judiciary Committee, said that if Congress were ever to consider legislation formally establishing the fund, he would insist that individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot be excluded from receiving any benefits.
In addition to eliminating the fund, Blanche’s newly released order also narrows another controversial aspect of the settlement involving tax audit protections for President Trump and his family.
The revised agreement makes clear that the provision applies only to tax matters that were already pending or unresolved at the time the settlement was reached. It explicitly states that the protection is retroactive in nature and does not prevent the IRS from reviewing or auditing future tax returns filed by President Trump or members of his family.
By rescinding the fund and clarifying the limits of the settlement’s tax provisions, the Justice Department appears to have addressed the primary objections raised by Senate Republicans, potentially improving Blanche’s prospects as lawmakers prepare to consider his nomination for attorney general.
Original article
Comments