Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded the order that created Donald Trump’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund on Sunday. The decision secured the support of two Republican senators who had blocked his confirmation.
The fund originated from a May settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over his tax records. It promised payouts to individuals claiming they suffered from government “lawfare.” Blanche’s order now removes the fund’s operational status, directly addressing concerns from important Republican holdouts.
Todd Blanche made the move as Republican holdouts threatened to derail his confirmation
According to a report by Axios, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis announced they will vote to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination. The senators stated they had negotiated a “legally enforceable document” that ends the anti-weaponization fund and restricts protections against audits. “We look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon,” they said.
A Department of Justice spokesperson did not confirm whether Donald Trump, his sons, or the Trump Organization had agreed in writing to rescind the fund. The spokesperson instead referenced Blanche’s August 2 order and his earlier testimony that the May 19 order “has effect only on plaintiffs and defendants, and that the release is retroactive only.”
The settlement that spawned the fund also granted Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization broad protection from certain IRS claims and audits. Todd Blanche clarified on Sunday that these audit protections apply only retroactively and only to the lawsuit’s named plaintiffs: Donald Trump, some family members, and the Trump Organization. The original agreement had extended those protections to any “related or affiliated” individuals and entities.
Blanche’s new order rescinds only the May directive implementing the fund. It does not touch the settlement provision that requires the attorney general to create the fund in the first place. The settlement terms can only change through a written agreement signed by both the Trumps and the government. Sunday’s order bears Blanche’s signature alone.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
