The political landscape has shifted dramatically as Todd Blanche the acting attorney general, announced the rescission of President Donald Trump‘s Anti-Weaponization Fund. This decision comes after intense pressure from two Republican senators who had been blocking Blanche’s confirmation as the next attorney general.
The nearly $1.8 billion fund, established to shield Trump from further IRS audits, has been a contentious issue. Blanche’s move signals a significant concession to the concerns raised by Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis who had been key holdouts in his nomination process.
Behind the Scenes: Negotiations and Concessions
Blanche posted two separate orders on X on Sunday night, one rescinding the fund and another clarifying the language regarding the scope of an arrangement that had shielded Trump from IRS audits. This arrangement was part of Trump’s settlement with the IRS in his $10 billion lawsuit against the agency.
The addendum, signed by Blanche in his role as acting attorney general, would have barred the government from continuing any existing audits of tax returns filed by Trump, his family, and their companies. However, Cornyn expressed his desire for written documentation that the settlement would not provide tax audit immunity to affiliated organizations not part of the lawsuit.
Senators’ Influence and Political Implications
Blanche’s post on Sunday indicates that he had secured approval from Cornyn and Tillis, who had been working behind closed doors to alter the language of the controversial settlement. This move is seen as a strategic concession to secure their support for his nomination.
Some legal experts and even MAGA supporters of the fund have questioned whether the rescission precludes the DOJ from making mass payouts to pro-Trump rioters or providing the clarification that Cornyn had initially sought regarding the IRS immunity clause.
Clarifications and Future Implications
The order dealing with IRS immunity notably states that the DOJ would interpret the order to mean that it only applies to plaintiffs in Trump and his son’s initial $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. However, this interpretation does not appear to be similarly binding on Trump’s personal lawyers or his family.
Previous vocal supporters of the Anti-Weaponization Fund have noted that there’s nothing specifically barring the DOJ from payouts to pro-Trump supporters who may have attacked police during the January 6, 2026 attack on the Capitol. This has raised further questions about the fund’s true intentions and potential future use.
Blanche’s orders on Sunday come after Trump floated the possibility of temporarily withdrawing Blanche’s nomination to permanently lead the Department of Justice due to the resistance from the two outgoing Republican senators. Both senators’ terms will end in January, with Cornyn losing a primary battle in Texas earlier this year and Tillis announcing last year he would not seek reelection.
Withdrawing Blanche’s nomination would have no consequence in terms of Blanche leading the DOJ. Acting department officials can serve in the role for 210 days according to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, although that resets if a nomination is withdrawn.
