Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche posted a signed order to X late Sunday night formally rescinding the controversial Anti-Weaponization Fund he personally created earlier this year.
The fund was established as part of a deal to drop Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns.
Blanche had repeatedly stated his intention to rescind the fund verbally, but until Sunday night had refused to commit that position to writing.
Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis had spent weeks demanding a written commitment, while Blanche insisted that verbal assurances were entirely sufficient.
The acting attorney general repeatedly questioned what purpose a written order would serve, holding out against the senators’ demands for an extended period before finally relenting.
The order states: “The Attorney General’s May 18, 2026 Order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund (‘Fund’) is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.”
A second document was also produced, purporting to affirm the limits of Trump’s tax audit immunity and narrowing its scope to the original plaintiffs in the case.
Following the release of the written order, the Senate Judiciary Committee rescheduled its confirmation vote on Blanche’s nomination for Tuesday, with confirmation now appearing highly likely.
Cornyn and Tillis declared themselves satisfied with the outcome, issuing a joint statement saying, “We are pleased that the Department of Justice has issued a formal order terminating the anti-weaponization fund.”
The two senators added in their joint statement that they “look forward to voting to advance his nomination,” signalling that their weeks-long standoff with Blanche has now concluded.
Whether the rescission of the fund represents a genuine end to the matter remains an open question among those who have followed the controversy closely.
The episode has drawn significant attention to the relationship between the Justice Department and political interests, with critics watching developments carefully as Blanche moves toward full confirmation.