The United States Senate confirmed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the next attorney general on Saturday, August 8th, 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 had 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 They demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) provide written proof that the fund was rescinded and sought changes to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) settlement to limit audit immunity for former President Donald Trump and his family.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 had not been met. This disagreement delayed the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup initially scheduled for July 30 by Chairman Chuck Grassley.

Blanche became acting attorney general on April 2 after Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi. His nomination faced criticism, with more than 1,200 former DOJ employees opposing it, citing actions they say have eroded the Department's independence.

During Blanche’s July 15 confirmation hearing, Cornyn questioned whether the anti-weaponization fund could be revived, highlighting ongoing concerns.

Separately, Representative Ruben Gallego announced he would miss a few votes to be with his wife during an emergency.

Sources