Attorney General Todd Blanche Formally Rescinds $1.8 Billion 'Anti-Weaponization' Settlement Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. — United States Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal administrative order rescinding the controversial $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," delivering on a written commitment that secured his confirmation by the narrowest Senate margin for an Attorney General in modern history.

Formal Rescission and Legal Architecture

The administrative directive formally revokes the Department of Justice's framework establishing the multi-billion-dollar compensation mechanism, which originated from a settlement structure in an IRS civil lawsuit brought by Donald Trump:

• Complete Termination of Fund: The order instructs DOJ and Department of the Treasury disbursements officers that the $1.8 billion allocation is definitively dissolved and that no federal taxpayer funds will be dispersed to individuals alleging historical political targeting.
• Settlement Compliance Review: Blanche directed senior career DOJ attorneys to review underlying contractual obligations to ensure that alternative federal mechanisms, including the statutory Judgment Fund, cannot be utilized to revive unauthorized payouts.
• Confirmation Backdrop: The formal rescission follows intense negotiations on Capitol Hill, where Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis conditioned their confirmation votes on an unequivocal, binding dissolution of the fund prior to Blanche taking the oath of office.

"This order confirms beyond any doubt that the fund is dead," Attorney General Blanche stated in remarks following the signing. "The Department of Justice will focus its institutional energy and resources on constitutional law enforcement, combating violent crime, securing our borders, and restoring public trust in the fair application of the law."

Senate Scrutiny and Departmental Independence

Blanche was confirmed on August 8, 2026, by a 50–49 vote along strict party lines. During his confirmation hearings and subsequent media interviews, lawmakers pressed Blanche extensively on DOJ independence and his previous role as personal defense counsel to President Trump.

Legal scholars and congressional oversight committees have indicated they will continue monitoring DOJ proceedings, noting that the underlying settlement documentation remains a matter of active inquiry in federal court. Critics have also scrutinized Blanche's statements indicating that the Justice Department will take executive policy perspectives into account when determining federal enforcement priorities.

Next Steps for Federal Law Enforcement

The Attorney General convened an all-hands leadership briefing with U.S. Attorneys and FBI executive leadership to outline initial priorities for the department's fall docket, emphasizing counter-narcotics task forces, public corruption enforcement, and compliance with congressional oversight mandates.