Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has completed two months in what was supposed to be a temporary role, but his recent performance has left Senate Republicans—and nearly everyone else—furious. After a disastrous week trying to sell President Trump's $1.8 billion government weaponization fund, the question now is how long Trump will allow Blanche to remain in the nation's top law enforcement position.
The fund, which Blanche pitched to Republican senators, was so brazenly self-serving that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) labeled it a "slush fund to pay people who assault cops," referencing potential compensation for those convicted in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called the proposal "stupid on stilts." The backlash has effectively killed any chance Trump had of securing a quick confirmation for a permanent attorney general, with McConnell and Tillis likely lost as potential yes votes.
The dysfunction at the Justice Department echoes the chaos of Trump's first term, when loyalists eroded public trust in the office. Now, Blanche is accelerating those failures. Republican senators, worried about losing control of the chamber due to Trump's toxic picks, believe they can reclaim influence by tightening oversight of the next AG nomination. But Trump shows no sign of ceding that control.
Blanche is legally limited to serving 210 days in his acting role, meaning Trump must name a successor by October 29—just ahead of the midterm election's heated finale. That timeline would hand Democrats a live confirmation hearing to hammer Trump on issues like the Epstein case, which they could tie to the administration. With Trump's approval ratings at historic lows, even the so-called master salesman wants to avoid a fight he's likely to lose. Instead, the White House is reportedly exploring legal loopholes to keep Blanche in place indefinitely, bypassing the Senate's constitutional role. This mirrors the Trump allies' push to oust the Senate parliamentarian after rulings on funding and voting bills.
Blanche himself has signaled willingness to serve permanently, nominated or not, despite his zero chance of confirmation. His meeting with Senate Republicans was described by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as "fiery," with at least half of the 45 senators present blasting the attorney general. "There were multiple senators yelling at the attorney general, saying this feels like self-dealing," Cruz recounted. The controversy stems from a bizarre settlement that ended Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, where the Justice Department personally insulated Trump, his family, and his businesses from future tax fraud investigations—a move that even loyalists like Cruz found excessive.
Lawmakers demanded legal justification for that deal, but Blanche was either unwilling or unable to provide a satisfactory answer. Instead, he appealed to senators' self-interest, suggesting they could file monetary claims with the fund themselves. That pitch fell flat among Republicans already anxious about their public image with voters. The episode underscores a growing rift: Trump expects his Capitol Hill allies to absorb the fallout, but Republicans are tired of being radioactive and unwilling to risk their jobs defending a figure like Blanche.
Senate Republicans are finally learning to say no to Trump's radicalized Justice Department. For a party that has long enabled Trump's demands, this rebellion may be overdue. As Representative Schiff proposes bills to block DOJ payouts from the anti-weaponization fund, the administration's tactics face increasing scrutiny. The question remains whether Trump will relent or double down on a strategy that has alienated even his most steadfast supporters.
