Acting attorney general issues order rescinding "anti-weaponization" fund

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order Sunday evening formally rescinding plans to create a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of President Trump.

The order came after weeks of negotiations with Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, who were threatening to block Blanche's confirmation for the permanent position to lead the Justice Department.

"The Attorney General's May 18, 2026 Order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund ('Fund') is rescinded and shall have no force or effect," the order states.

"For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Order is intended to contradict or otherwise be contrary to prior representations by the Department of Justice that the Fund is not operative. No Members were appointed; no funds were transferred; no process for receiving claims was established; no claims were paid. Nevertheless, several frivolous lawsuits have been filed challenging the Fund, and at least one court has declined to dismiss those claims as moot," it continues. "This Order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund."

Tillis and Cornyn have refused to vote for Blanche as the full-time attorney general unless it is put in writing that Mr. Trump will no longer pursue the "anti-weaponization" fund, a nearly $1.8 billion fund to pay people who claim they were politically persecuted that was announced in May as part of a settlement to resolve a lawsuit brought by the president against the IRS and Treasury Department.

The document released by Blanche on Sunday night also limits the scope of another provision of the settlement that provided broad immunity for Mr. Trump and members of his family from tax audits. It clarifies that the tax audit immunity agreement "applies only retroactively" to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings.

"My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions," Blanche said in a post on X. We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order."

Cornyn and Tillis said on Monday that they will vote to advance Blanche's nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee given his commitments on the fund and the immunity provisions of the settlement.

On Monday, a former Justice Department lawyer said Blanche's unilateral rescission of the creation of the "anti-weaponization" fund does not have any legal effect and does not prevent the fund from being revived in the future.

"I think this is all for pol