Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before a House Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday afternoon for a hearing focused on oversight of the Justice Department, as the Trump administration's controversial $1.776 billion compensation fund faces mounting bipartisan opposition.
The fund, which the administration has described as an “anti-weaponization” initiative, is designed to settle claims from individuals who allege they were wrongfully prosecuted by the federal government. It emerged from President Trump’s legal settlement with the IRS over the leak of his past tax returns, but has since become a flashpoint in broader debates about prosecutorial overreach and fiscal responsibility.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.D.) has been among the most prominent Republicans urging the White House to abandon the fund. Thune and other lawmakers have demanded greater transparency about eligibility criteria and the application process, warning that the fund could be exploited or mismanaged.
The hearing comes after a series of developments that have intensified scrutiny of the fund. House Democratic leaders have called for subpoenas targeting Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel in connection with the Epstein files probe, while some GOP lawmakers have joined Democrats in questioning the fund's structure. Thune pressed the White House to scrap the $1.8 billion fund earlier this month, arguing it undermines public trust in the justice system.
Blanche’s testimony is expected to face sharp questioning from both sides of the aisle. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) has already forced a House vote to block the fund, and Senate Democrats have moved to formally block it after the Justice Department appeared to distance itself from the proposal. Fitzpatrick’s procedural maneuver signals deep unease within the GOP caucus, which holds a slim majority and is already grappling with internal divisions over spending priorities.
The fund’s future also intersects with broader political dynamics. House Speaker Mike Johnson has reportedly told Trump that the anti-weaponization fund is effectively dead given the tight margins in the chamber. Johnson’s blunt message reflects the reality that any major expenditure faces an uphill battle without unified GOP support.
Blanche’s appearance before the committee is part of a broader wave of oversight activity as the Trump administration pushes its agenda. The acting attorney general has been a central figure in several high-profile controversies, including the handling of the Epstein files and the administration’s shifting intelligence leadership. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi recently testified that Blanche bore responsibility for the chaotic release of Epstein-related documents, further complicating his position.
The hearing, which began at 4 p.m. EDT, was streamed live by multiple outlets. It remains unclear whether Blanche will offer new details about the fund’s design or signal any willingness to alter its terms. With the reconciliation bill stalled and Senate GOP leaders bracing for a showdown, Tuesday’s testimony could be a pivotal moment in determining whether the anti-weaponization fund survives or becomes another casualty of Washington’s partisan gridlock.
