Donald Trump is considering temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche's nomination as U.S. attorney general after two Republican senators blocked his confirmation over a disputed $1.8 billion compensation fund. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have demanded written guarantees the fund will never be activated, stalling the Judiciary Committee vote.
The proposed fund, designed to settle a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, would compensate presidential allies. Trump has defended the initiative while proposing to renominate Blanche after Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate. Both senators face political pressure; Cornyn lost his May primary to Ken Paxton by roughly 28 points.
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since Trump dismissed Pam Bondi in April. The confirmation impasse leaves the Justice Department without a permanent leader as the administration navigates the controversy.