Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) announced he will vote to advance the nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general following a deal to limit a controversial settlement fund [1].
The agreement removes a significant hurdle for Blanche's confirmation by addressing GOP concerns that the fund could be used to protect political allies from tax scrutiny.
The deal centered on a $1.8 billion [1] "anti-weaponization" fund brokered by the Justice Department to resolve a lawsuit filed by President Trump against the IRS [2]. During a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026 [1], Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) expressed their support after receiving assurances regarding the fund's status [4].
Cornyn said that the specifics of the settlement were a primary point of contention for several lawmakers. "While this may sound like nitpicking to some, it's critically important — not only to me but to other members of the Senate," Cornyn said [5].
To secure the support of the two GOP holdouts [4], Blanche took direct action to neutralize the fund. "I have issued an order terminating the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund," Blanche said [3].
Tillis said the resolution was necessary for the nomination to proceed. "We are pleased with the assurances we received on the IRS fund," Tillis said [6].
The resolution of this dispute allows the nomination to move forward after weeks of debate over whether the settlement granted the president undue immunity from federal tax oversight [2].
“"I have issued an order terminating the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund."”
The termination of the $1.8 billion fund represents a strategic concession to maintain Republican unity during the confirmation process. By removing the financial mechanism tied to the IRS lawsuit, the administration avoids a public debate over potential tax immunity and the use of Justice Department funds to compensate political allies, effectively clearing the path for Blanche to lead the DOJ.
