On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, survived a critical Senate Judiciary Committee vote. The committee confirmed Blanche in a narrow 12-10 vote, advancing his nomination to the full Senate for final consideration.

Blanche’s committee approval followed a last-minute agreement with Republican Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas. The deal included permanently rescinding the Department of Justice’s nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund and narrowing the scope of audit immunity for Trump and his family, two key elements of Blanche’s earlier IRS settlement.

Senator Tillis stated, "we've got enough data in the record to know it's rescinded," while acknowledging ongoing questions about the audit component, an area where he expressed trust in Senator Cornyn. Cornyn and Tillis reportedly "seem to have gotten nothing meaningful," reflecting some skepticism about the deal's concessions.

Blanche’s confirmation hearing took place at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 2026. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has expressed a desire to expedite Blanche’s confirmation amid a busy legislative schedule before the Senate recesses until September.

Despite clearing this hurdle, uncertainty remains about whether Blanche will secure final confirmation, as Senate Republicans remain divided over the terms of the White House agreement and its implications.

Sources