The United States 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 several Republican senators.

Blanche was confirmed by a 50-49 vote, with every Democrat and two Republicans, including Maine Senator John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, voting in favor. Cornyn and Tillis had initially hesitated to support 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 They demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) provide written proof that the fund was rescinded and sought revisions to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) settlement to limit audit immunity for former President Donald Trump and his family.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 scheduled for July 30, which was postponed by Chairman Chuck Grassley until a deal was reached.

Blanche became acting Attorney General on April 2, 2026, after former Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired by President Trump. His nomination faced opposition from more than 1,200 former DOJ employees who argued that Blanche had taken actions undermining the Department's independence.

During his July 15 confirmation hearing, Cornyn questioned Blanche about the possibility of reviving the anti-weaponization fund. Meanwhile, Representative Ruben Gallego announced he would miss several votes to attend to a family emergency.

Despite the challenges, Blanche's confirmation marks a significant development in the Department of Justice's leadership.

Sources