US President Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general, Todd Blanche, faces a possible Republican roadblock in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Two Republican senators are withholding support from the nomination, making its advancement increasingly precarious.

The vote on advancing Blanche’s nomination out of the committee was expected to take place on Thursday but has been delayed. A key vote scheduled within 13 hours of Wednesday night did not occur as most lawmakers had left the US Capitol. The committee has not announced whether to cancel the vote entirely.

The US Senate Judiciary Committee is controlled by Republicans 12-10. This margin means either Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) or Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) could join unified Democratic opposition to block the nomination from reaching the Senate floor. Blanche needs the vote of every Republican member of the committee to advance.

Dispute Over 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'

The dispute centers on a settlement between US President Donald Trump and his administration over the illegal disclosure of his tax records. Senators Cornyn and Tillis are demanding that a proposed $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' be permanently cancelled. They have requested written assurances because they fear the settlement text with the president's legal team might still require the fund to be established.

The fund originated from a settlement between US President Donald Trump's legal team and the IRS, engineered by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) after Trump took office in 2025. The DOJ claimed the fund would 'provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare' by the agency.

Controversy arose over whether the anti-weaponization fund could be used to reward January 6 rioters who were subsequently pardoned by US President Donald Trump. Funding for the fund was excluded from the second Republican reconciliation package, but Senators Cornyn and Tillis demanded it be completely eliminated. The US White House and Todd Blanche have stated that the fund is 'dead'.

Senators Hold Firm

US Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and US Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) are showing no signs of backing down on their demands concerning Todd Blanche's nomination to become permanent US Attorney General. They also oppose a provision that would give US President Donald Trump perpetual immunity from IRS audits of his finances prior to May 19, 2026.

Senator Cornyn told reporters he would not support Blanche's nomination without written confirmation that the proposed $1.8 billion fund for the president's allies was dead. He accused the US Justice Department of 'stonewalling' his requests, stating that officials had 'simply refused to cooperate.' Cornyn stated that he owes it to his constituents and to Todd Blanche to try to negotiate in good faith.

Senator Cornyn stated that the issue is about ensuring the president does not get favorable terms from the government in a settlement, such as protections from IRS audits. He noted that he has voted with US President Donald Trump '99.3 percent of the time'. Senator Cornyn also stated that the president's decision to endorse his primary opponent 'has nothing to do' with his opposition to Blanche.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is in his last year of service in the US Senate and has elected to retire, said of President Trump's threat to withdraw Blanche's nomination: 'That's his prerogative.' Tillis added: 'This is not Blanche's problem. It's clear to me that Blanche was honest when he answered without hesitation, working with us to end this. I believe that one of the president's advisors who were part of this agreement is the problem. And they need to own it.'

Trump's Response

US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that he would have 'no objection' to temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche's nomination until his Republican opponents are out of office next January. Trump described Todd Blanche as a 'STAR' and claimed he 'has the potential to go down as one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time'.

Trump also claimed on Truth Social that he refused to endorse US Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. He claimed that their political careers have been ended by his actions. Trump criticized the senators for previously voting for US Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland under former President Joe Biden, stating: 'Remember, both Cornyn and Tillis voted for Merrick Garland, and others, too numerous to mention.'

Trump's threat to withdraw Blanche followed a day of fruitless negotiations with Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. Todd Blanche would 'remain, in any event, as Acting'. Blanche is described as a Justice Department loyalist and was former US President Donald Trump's defence lawyer.

The settlement has intensified broader concerns that Todd Blanche has acted and would continue to act as US President Donald Trump's personal attorney rather than an independent chief law enforcement officer. As acting US Attorney General, Blanche has overseen cases against presidential adversaries while defending legal arrangements favorable to US President Donald Trump and his allies.

A spokesperson for the US Senate Judiciary Committee stated that the hearing on Todd Blanche's nomination was postponed as work continues to secure sufficient support in committee. The spokesperson described Blanche as 'highly qualified' for the job. The US administration has provided new language and remains in talks with Senators Cornyn and Tillis, leaving open the possibility of rescheduling the vote before the US Senate's August recess.

Senator John Cornyn stated that US President Donald Trump 'is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis.' Senator Thom Tillis warned: 'The best case scenario is you come back with the same number of people next year, and our members are not going to be any more supportive of this than they are today.'