Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has confirmed that a controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund," intended as reparations for individuals who claimed government wrongdoing, has been rescinded and will not be revived. This decision came amid bipartisan objections in the Senate, which stalled Blanche's confirmation process for the permanent Attorney General position.
Blanche's written confirmation on Sunday acknowledged these concerns, representing a rare instance where the Senate's confirmation power has constrained the White House. However, the move has not deterred former President Donald Trump, who has publicly insisted he will pursue a version of the fund despite objections. Trump told reporters on Monday that he had not approved the rescission. The two Republican senators who spearheaded the opposition, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas, are both slated to depart the Senate in early 2027.
The "anti-weaponization fund" is the latest in a series of attempts by Trump to direct federal money into accounts that he or his allies could control. This pursuit of what has been described as a "slush fund" has been a recurring theme throughout his presidency, with some prior efforts achieving more success.
These past attempts include redirecting proceeds from the sale of Venezuelan oil into special U.S. Treasury accounts after the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. These accounts are designated as Venezuela's sovereign property but are released at the direction of the Secretary of State. Another initiative was the Board of Peace, a coalition for rebuilding Gaza. This program was designed as a pay-to-play operation, where member countries could secure seats for three years by contributing $1 billion to a Trump-controlled organization, though reports indicated that only two countries had made contributions despite over twenty signing on.
Additionally, during his first term, Trump proposed the creation of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund that would allow him to direct federal investments in private companies. While this specific fund never materialized, the administration has since acquired equity stakes in at least a dozen firms.
Tad DeHaven, a policy analyst with the Cato Institute, wrote earlier this year that the long-term risk extends beyond potential illegality. He stated that Trump's presidency is normalizing the treatment of financial receipts and disbursements as tools of personal power.