Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally issued an order on Sunday rescinding President Donald Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund." This decision follows weeks of intense negotiations with Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had threatened to block Blanche's nomination for the permanent Attorney General position unless the fund was scrapped. The fund, announced in May as part of a settlement to resolve Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, was intended to compensate individuals claiming political persecution.
Blanche's order explicitly states that the May 18, 2026, order establishing the fund "is rescinded and shall have no force or effect." He clarified that no members were appointed, no funds were transferred, no process for receiving claims was established, and no claims were paid, asserting, "This Order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund." This move is seen as a direct response to the senators' demands and aims to clear the path for his confirmation, with the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled to vote on his nomination just two days after the order.
In addition to rescinding the fund, Blanche's order also clarified the scope of another provision of the settlement related to broad immunity for Mr. Trump and his family from tax audits. The new clarification states that this immunity applies only retroactively to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not protect the president from examinations of future tax filings.
The Justice Department had previously asserted in court filings in June that the fund was not moving forward, and Blanche himself had repeatedly testified to Congress that it was not operational. However, the formal written rescission was a key demand from Senators Cornyn and Tillis to ensure their support for his confirmation. Blanche communicated the development via a post on X, thanking senators for good faith discussions and productive engagement.
