The U.S. Senate confirmed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to be the next Attorney General on Saturday, August 8, 2026, following a contentious nomination process marked by opposition from several Republican senators.

Blanche was confirmed by a 50-49 vote, with every Democrat and two Republicans supporting him. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis initially hesitated to back Blanche due to concerns over a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization package. They demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) provide written proof that the fund had been rescinded and sought revisions to an Internal Revenue Service settlement to limit audit immunity for former President Donald Trump and his family.

The DOJ submitted a written proposal to Cornyn on July 27, but Cornyn returned it, stating that the demands had not been met. This disagreement delayed the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup scheduled for July 30, which was postponed by chairman Chuck Grassley until a deal was reached.

Blanche became acting Attorney General on April 2, 2026, after former Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired by President Trump. His nomination faced criticism from over 1,200 former DOJ employees who argued that he had undermined the department's independence.

During his July 15 confirmation hearing, Cornyn questioned Blanche about the possibility of reviving the anti-weaponization fund. Despite the opposition, Blanche secured enough support to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ultimately be confirmed by the full Senate.

Separately, Representative Ruben Gallego announced he would miss a few votes to attend to a family emergency.

Sources