The U.S. Senate confirmed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to be the next attorney general on Saturday, August 8, 2026, following a contentious nomination process marked by opposition from some Republican senators.

Blanche was confirmed by a 50-49 vote, with every Democrat and two Republicans supporting him, according to Maine Sen. [name not specified]. 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 They demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) provide written proof that the fund was rescinded and sought revisions to an IRS settlement to limit audit immunity for former President Donald Trump and his family.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. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley had scheduled a markup for July 30 but postponed it 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 after Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi. His nomination faced criticism from more than 1,200 former DOJ employees who argued that Blanche had taken actions that eroded the department's independence.

Separately, Rep. Ruben Gallego announced he would miss a few votes on Thursday, August 6, 2026, to be with his wife during an emergency.

Sources