Washington — Early on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a narrow 50-49 vote, installing President Trump's former defense lawyer as the head of the Justice Department.

Blanche's confirmation faced opposition from all Senate Democrats as well as Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. However, his path cleared when Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced his support for the nomination.

During his June confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche addressed concerns about the Justice Department's creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, which was designed to provide payouts to individuals alleging wrongful treatment by the federal government. Blanche stated 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 that 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 former President Trump faces multiple legal challenges, including a criminal case in New York related to a $130,000 "hush money" payment made before the 2016 election and two federal cases brought by former special counsel Jack Smith. These federal cases involve allegations of efforts to subvert the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election and mishandling of sensitive government documents.

Supporters of Blanche have described his confirmation as "a huge win for President Trump and our country," emphasizing his "unwavering commitment to law and order." Critics have raised concerns about actions that may have "further eroded the Department's independence."

Sources