Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday rescinding President Donald Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. The fund, which was intended to compensate the president's political allies, had been widely derided as a slush fund.
The move follows a weekslong standoff and negotiations between the Trump administration and Republican senators. Two holdout senators had been blocking Blanche's nomination for attorney general due to concerns about the fund. Although Blanche had previously stated publicly that the fund was dead, the Justice Department had resisted formally confirming this in writing, leading to worries that the measure could be revived.
Blanche stated on X that his team met with committee members and senators to address outstanding questions through good faith discussions. The formal order was issued ahead of a key Senate committee vote scheduled for Tuesday. In addition to rescinding the fund, Blanche clarified the scope of the president's sweeping immunity deal with the Internal Revenue Service.