Washington — Early on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the United States attorney general, narrowly approving the former defense lawyer for President Trump in a 50-49 vote. Blanche's confirmation installs him as the nation's top law enforcement official.

The vote saw Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska join all Democrats in opposing Blanche's nomination. His path to confirmation was cleared the previous day when Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced his support.

Blanche faced significant opposition during his confirmation process, particularly over the Justice Department's creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund designed to provide payouts to individuals alleging wrongful treatment by the federal government. During his June confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche stated that the fund was "dead" and that the department was "not moving forward" with the program amid strong pushback from lawmakers.

In a social media post following the vote, Blanche expressed gratitude, saying he was "deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice."

The confirmation comes as President Trump faces multiple legal challenges, including a criminal case in New York state court related to a $130,000 "hush money" payment made before the 2016 election, and two federal cases brought by former special counsel Jack Smith concerning alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential power transfer and the handling of sensitive government documents.

Supporters hailed the confirmation as "a huge win for President Trump and our country," emphasizing Blanche's "unwavering commitment to law and order," despite concerns about "several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence."

Sources