Senate Republicans Delay Vote on Blanche's Attorney General Nomination Amid GOP Holdout Concerns

A Senate committee vote scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, on Todd Blanche's nomination for U.S. attorney general was postponed amid objections from two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. Blanche currently serves as acting attorney general under President Donald Trump, who nominated him for the permanent post. The delay stemmed from concerns raised by Cornyn and Tillis that stalled the committee's ability to advance the nomination. Cornyn reportedly sought formal modifications to an agreement the Justice Department made with Trump to settle his lawsuit against the IRS, specifically involving what has been described as a DOJ "anti-weaponization fund." In response to the impasse, Trump said Thursday he may temporarily pull Blanche's nomination rather than agree to concessions demanded by the two senators. Trump suggested he could wait to renominate Blanche until Cornyn and Tillis are no longer in office, according to remarks reported the same day. As of the reporting period, the nomination remains unresolved, with no rescheduled committee vote confirmed. It is unclear whether Trump will follow through on withdrawing the nomination or what specific modifications to the IRS settlement agreement Cornyn is demanding beyond the reported dispute over the anti-weaponization fund. The precise objections raised by Tillis, and whether they align with or differ from Cornyn's concerns, were not detailed consistently across reports.