President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, acting AG Todd Blanche, faces a precarious path to confirmation as two Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans demand a written commitment that a proposed Justice Department fund is permanently scrapped. The standoff has delayed a scheduled vote and exposed deepening rifts within the GOP as the administration navigates its final months.
Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) have refused to advance Blanche's nomination until they receive formal assurance that the $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund—part of a settlement between Trump, the DOJ, and the IRS—is dead. Critics argue the fund would compensate individuals claiming DOJ targeting, but opponents see it as a potential slush fund for Trump allies. Blanche has called the issue 'moot,' but Cornyn remains skeptical, noting the settlement requires written consent from all parties to alter. 'It could be revived at a future date,' Cornyn warned reporters after a July 15 hearing.
Both lawmakers are part of a loosely defined group dubbed the 'YOLO caucus'—Republicans exiting Congress who feel free to defy Trump without electoral consequences. Cornyn lost a primary to Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, while Tillis announced his retirement last year amid clashes over Trump's legislative agenda. Others in the group include Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his primary to Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow, and House members like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.).
Trump responded on Truth Social, calling Blanche a 'STAR' but criticizing Cornyn and Tillis, whom he claimed he 'refused to Endorse.' The president suggested he might withdraw Blanche's nomination rather than face a committee defeat. Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) canceled a Thursday meeting to weigh Blanche's permanent appointment as the standoff escalated.
Tillis pushed back on the idea that his opposition is personal, telling reporters he never sought Trump's endorsement and would have resisted any pressure. 'The moment the president would have used that sort of tool, he'd have gotten a Tillis response,' he said. Both senators insist they need a binding written agreement that the fund is dead before they will vote to advance Blanche.
Cassidy, another potential holdout, voiced broader concerns about DOJ 'weaponization.' He told CBS News that if Blanche cannot provide adequate answers on the fund's finality, 'probably there needs to be somebody else.' Cassidy has become a vocal critic of the administration since his primary loss, mirroring a trend among exiting Republicans who are increasingly willing to break ranks.
The impasse underscores a broader dynamic: as Trump's influence wanes with departing lawmakers, his ability to push controversial nominees through a closely divided Senate may weaken. If Blanche fails to secure a simple majority on the floor, the administration could face a prolonged vacancy at the Justice Department's helm. For now, the 'YOLO caucus' is leveraging its final months to extract concessions—and reshape the GOP's post-Trump trajectory.
