Trump Threatens to Revive $1.8B 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund Amid Blanche Confirmation Standoff

President Trump said in late July and early August 2026 that he would push forward with a proposed $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund intended for allies if the Senate does not confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general. The dispute centers on Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who have withheld support for Blanche's nomination pending written assurance that the Justice Department would not establish the fund. Blanche, serving as acting attorney general, had previously told Congress multiple times that the fund was 'dead,' but Trump's renewed threat reignited the controversy and complicated his confirmation path. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the fund would 'immediately be back on the table' and that he would 'get it done' if the holdouts continued blocking Blanche. He also said he was willing to keep Blanche in his current acting role, potentially delaying formal nomination until January, when he suggested the political dynamics in the Senate could shift in his favor. The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a meeting for the following Tuesday to reconsider Blanche's nomination amid the impasse. Trump's comments came after he had previously signaled the fund was no longer under consideration, marking a reversal that surprised some Republican senators. As of early August 2026, Blanche's confirmation remains unresolved, with Cornyn and Tillis continuing to withhold support pending clarity on the fund's status. The Hill reported that some Senate Republicans view Trump's handling of the dispute, along with his broader conduct, as a growing political liability heading into the 2026 midterm elections, though this characterization was not corroborated by other outlets in this set. It remains unconfirmed whether Trump will formally withdraw and resubmit Blanche's nomination, whether the fund will be formally re-proposed through legislation, and how the Judiciary Committee's scheduled meeting will affect the standoff's outcome.