On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the US Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote, delivering a major win for President Donald Trump. Blanche, a former personal lawyer to Trump, will now lead the Department of Justice with full authority after serving in an acting capacity.

The confirmation was contentious, with every Democrat opposing Blanche’s nomination. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, also voted against him. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote in favor of Blanche, stating on the Senate floor that while Blanche is "not perfect," he was the better choice to run the department effectively under President Trump.

Blanche faced criticism over the department’s creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" and a settlement granting tax immunity to Trump, his sons, and his businesses. Under 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, cases viewed by experts as weak.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Senate Republicans of enabling Trump’s "pervasive, breathtaking misconduct" by confirming Blanche. Senator Collins expressed concern that Blanche’s actions have "further eroded the department’s independence," which influenced her opposition.

Blanche publicly committed to abandoning the controversial compensation fund and limiting the tax immunity provisions amid pressure during the confirmation process. He has also defended Trump against criminal charges brought by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice, claiming firsthand experience with what he describes as the weaponization of the justice system against Trump.

Blanche expressed gratitude on social media for the trust placed in him by President Trump and the Senate’s late-night confirmation vote. The confirmation caps one of the most divisive cabinet fights of Trump’s second term, highlighting ongoing partisan tensions over the Justice Department’s role and independence.

Sources