After a weekslong standoff between senators and the Trump administration, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Sunday night, August 2, 2026, that he had issued an order officially rescinding a $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.

Blanche wrote on X that his team had met with committee members and senators over several weeks to address concerns and outstanding questions. He described the discussions as conducted in good faith and issued the order as an update regarding the May IRS settlement. Attached to his post was a signed order stating, “The Attorney General’s May 18, 2026 Order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund (‘Fund’) is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.” The order emphasized, “This order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no fund.”

The announcement came two days before the Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote on advancing Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general in a permanent capacity.

The fund had faced criticism partly because payouts could have extended to participants in the January events. Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had made their support for Blanche contingent on the administration rescinding the fund. Tillis announced he would not seek re-election, and Cornyn was unseated by Trump-endorsed GOP primary challenger Ken Paxton. Both senators noted that other senators shared their concerns but could not vote on Blanche’s nomination until it reached the full Senate because they were not on the Judiciary Committee.

Sources

NBC Politics, Acting AG Todd Blanche reaches deal with holdout senators to scrap $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund