Senate Republicans erupted in fury Thursday at acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over the Trump administration's plan to create a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, effectively stalling a budget reconciliation bill aimed at funding immigration enforcement. GOP senators made clear the package won't advance until their concerns are resolved, in a dramatic display of internal party strife.
During a tense meeting in the Capitol's Mansfield Room, lawmakers pressed Blanche to impose strict limits on who could receive payouts from the fund. Anger boiled over after Blanche refused during a Tuesday hearing to rule out compensation for individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Multiple sources described the atmosphere as a “screaming-fest” and “toxic.”
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina was particularly vocal, challenging Blanche directly. Rand Paul of Kentucky also clashed sharply with the attorney general. “It was a general airing of grievances,” one source said. “The administration's priorities keep shifting, and there's been a lack of communication between the Hill and the executive branch.”
Blanche resisted demands to limit eligibility, further inflaming tensions. Under the administration's proposal, Blanche would appoint four of five commissioners overseeing the fund, with the fifth appointed in consultation with congressional leaders. Republicans urged more oversight, but Blanche refused to budge.
Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell issued a blistering statement: “The nation's top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong – take your pick.” Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana called it a “slush fund” with no legal precedent or congressional oversight, likening it to “somebody suing themselves and agreeing on a settlement funded by the rest of us.”
The controversy comes amid broader GOP frustrations, including President Trump's endorsement of state Attorney General Ken Paxton over Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican primary. One senator called that move “the straw that broke the camel's back.” The dispute has also delayed the $72 billion budget reconciliation bill, which was meant to fund immigration enforcement. A Senate Republican aide said the fund announcement “100-percent” sank the bill's chances of passing this week.
Senator Katie Britt of Alabama said she opposed any payouts to those who assaulted Capitol police. Senator Rand Paul raised concerns about the Justice Department potentially compensating Trump for unjust prosecutions in exchange for dropping a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns. “It's unprecedented for someone to be on both sides of a legal decision,” Paul said.
The standoff underscores deepening rifts between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration as the midterm elections approach. For more on the broader tensions, read our coverage of GOP tensions boiling over as the Senate delays the immigration bill past Trump's deadline. Meanwhile, the fund itself has drawn scrutiny from figures like Acosta, who is seeking a payout from the DOJ's $1.8B anti-weaponization fund. The outcome of this fight could reshape the party's legislative agenda and electoral prospects.
