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 had been serving as acting attorney general, is now fully empowered to lead the Justice Department and advance the Trump administration's agenda.

The confirmation was one of the most divisive cabinet fights of Trump's second term, with bipartisan concerns raised over Blanche's independence. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, opposed the nomination, citing worries about the politicization of the Justice Department. Murkowski highlighted concerns over a nearly $2 billion "anti-weaponization fund" that was proposed to compensate individuals, including January 6 Capitol attackers, and the tax immunity deal for Trump and his family, which Blanche had promised in writing to abandon under pressure.

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote in favor of Blanche, stating, “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.”

During his tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, Blanche accelerated investigations into Trump's perceived political opponents and defended Trump against criminal charges brought by the Biden administration's Department of Justice. He has described these cases as examples of the weaponization of the criminal justice system against Trump.

On social media, Blanche expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by President Trump and thanked senators for their late-night work to confirm him. The confirmation vote followed weeks of uncertainty and exposed deep divisions within the Senate over the future independence of the Justice Department.

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