Trump Nominates Acting AG Todd Blanche for Permanent Attorney General
President Trump announced on June 3-4, 2026 his intent to permanently nominate Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Blanche, Trump's former personal criminal defense attorney, has been serving as acting AG since Pam Bondi was fired in April. His tenure as acting AG has been marked by controversy: pursuing indictments against Trump critics, rolling back gun control enforcement, and most recently announcing the DOJ would not move forward with the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund — the same day Trump said he'd "have to ask the lawyers" about its status. Critics say Blanche continues to act as Trump's personal lawyer rather than the nation's chief law enforcement officer. The confirmation battle stalled in late July 2026. Blanche testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15, and Ranking Member Dick Durbin spoke against the nomination at a July 23 markup, citing more than 1,200 former career DOJ employees who opposed him. On the night of Wednesday, July 29, the committee postponed the vote scheduled for Thursday, July 30, after Republican Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) said they were not prepared to vote yes. Both wanted written assurances from the Justice Department about the settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, which Blanche oversaw as acting AG. That settlement created the now-canceled $1.8 billion fund that could have compensated Trump allies, and barred the IRS from audits or other enforcement actions on tax returns filed by the president, his family, or his business entities before the May settlement. The standoff broke over the following weekend. Blanche said on Sunday, August 2 that he had reached a deal to amend the settlement, and Cornyn and Tillis said the agreement satisfied their concerns. The Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination 12-10 on a party-line vote on Tuesday, August 4, sending it to the full Senate. Hours later, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced she would vote against confirmation, saying Blanche had taken actions that further eroded the Justice Department's independence. With all 45 Democrats and both independents expected to oppose him, Blanche can afford to lose only one more Republican.
“What I'm worried about is that there is statutory authority to do this kind of garbage, and I'd like to figure out a way to nuke it before I get out of here.”