WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order terminating the $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, resolving the primary obstacle blocking his confirmation as the nation's top prosecutor.
The order declares the fund "is rescinded and shall have no force or effect."
The fund was established as part of a settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. That agreement also granted Trump and his family's business immunity from future tax audits, a provision that remains in effect.
Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas had withheld their support for Blanche's nomination over the fund. They argued it represented an inappropriate use of government resources to compensate political allies of the president.
Their opposition created a direct challenge to Trump's choice for attorney general. Trump responded by threatening to temporarily withdraw Blanche's nomination, a move that would have forced the administration to restart the confirmation process.
Blanche spent weeks negotiating with the two holdouts, culminating in his decision to formally scrap the fund.
The order said: "This order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no fund."
The original IRS settlement, which included both the fund and the audit immunity, had drawn scrutiny from critics in both parties, who questioned the precedent of a president negotiating a personal settlement involving a government agency and a financial allocation.
With the fund eliminated, the Senate is expected to proceed to a confirmation vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said the chamber will prioritize the confirmation following this resolution.
