Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche capitulated to Senate demands on Sunday, issuing an order that cancels a $1.8 billion fund designed to compensate allies of Donald Trump prosecuted during the Biden administration. The move is aimed at unlocking his stalled permanent nomination to lead the Justice Department.

The fund and the order

The fund, described as an "anti-instrumentalisation" mechanism, was worth nearly $1.8 billion. Blanche's order states the fund "is cancelled" and adds that "the present order establishes, beyond any doubt, that no fund exists." The text was published on Blanche's account on X.

Senate roadblock

Blanche has served as acting Attorney General since the dismissal of Pam Bondi in April. Donald Trump subsequently nominated him for the permanent post, but his constitutionally required Senate confirmation hit an impasse. Two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, demanded written guarantees that the administration would definitively abandon the compensation fund before they would allow the nomination to proceed.

Blanche's response

Blanche described the order as the result of "good faith discussions" with lawmakers and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. By meeting the senators' core demand, he removed the primary obstacle that had blocked his confirmation for weeks.

Trump's fallback threat

Facing the prospect of a prolonged stalemate, President Trump had stated on Thursday that he was considering postponing Blanche's nomination until after the November legislative elections. Sunday's order appears designed to avert that scenario and secure a vote before the elections.