On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the US Senate voted 50–49 to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, marking a significant victory for President Donald Trump. Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general, is now fully empowered to lead the Justice Department and advance the Trump administration's agenda.

The confirmation capped one of the most divisive cabinet fights of Trump's second term, with bipartisan concerns about Blanche's independence nearly derailing his nomination. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, opposed the confirmation, citing worries about the politicization of the Justice Department.

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote in favor of Blanche, stating on the Senate floor, “Mr Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr Blanche. It is between Mr Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump and who indeed may not be as good as Mr Blanche.”

Blanche faced criticism over the Justice Department’s creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" intended to compensate individuals who felt mistreated by the criminal justice system, including some involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Under pressure, Blanche promised in writing to abandon this fund and rein in provisions shielding Trump and his family from IRS tax audits.

During his tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, the department indicted former FBI director James Comey twice, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, in cases viewed by some experts as weak.

Senator Collins remarked, “While I believe Mr Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political. Mr Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the department’s independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation.” Murkowski expressed concern that the nearly $2-billion slush fund would have rewarded January 6 protesters and warned about the uncertain future once the Senate vote concluded.

On social media, Blanche expressed gratitude, saying he was “deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me,” and thanked senators for their late-night work to confirm him.

Blanche has defended Trump against criminal charges brought by the Biden administration's Department of Justice, describing his experience as revealing what he calls the weaponization of the criminal justice system against the former president.

This confirmation places a close Trump ally at the helm of the Justice Department, a move that has sparked debate over the agency's independence and future direction.

Sources