The United States Senate confirmed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to be the next Attorney General on August 8, 2026, following a contentious nomination process marked by opposition from a handful of Republican senators.

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 They demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) provide written proof that the fund was rescinded and sought revisions to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) settlement to limit audit immunity for former President Donald Trump and his family.

The DOJ sent a written proposal to Cornyn on July 27, but Cornyn returned it, arguing that the demands were not fully met. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley postponed a markup scheduled for July 30 because Cornyn had not reached a deal with Blanche. Eventually, Cornyn and Tillis reached an agreement with Blanche and voted to advance his nomination out of the committee.

Blanche became acting Attorney General on April 2, 2026, after former Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired by then-President Trump. His nomination faced criticism from more than 1,200 former DOJ employees who argued that Blanche had taken actions undermining the Department’s independence.

During Blanche’s July 15 confirmation hearing, Cornyn questioned him about the possibility of reviving the anti-weaponization fund. Meanwhile, Representative Ruben Gallego announced he would miss several votes to attend to a family emergency.

Despite the opposition and concerns, Blanche’s confirmation marks a significant development in the leadership of the Department of Justice.

Sources