• Acting AG Todd Blanche rescinded Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
• Decision made to secure confirmation votes amid GOP senators' concerns.
• Blanche's order states no funds were ever transferred or claims processed.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order on Sunday night rescinding the "anti-weaponization fund," which was intended to compensate political allies of former President Donald Trump. This move came just before a critical Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche's nomination, which had been delayed by concerns raised by Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn regarding the fund, deemed as potentially inappropriate by critics, including members of their own party, according to CBS News, Reuters, and NPR.

The order detailed that the fund, valued at $1.8 billion, never became operational, stating that "no Members were appointed; no funds were transferred; no process for receiving claims was established; no claims were paid." Blanche emphasized that this serves to clarify that "there is no Fund" following multiple frivolous lawsuits challenging its existence, according to CBS News and Reuters.

The reinstatement of the order emerged after weeks of discussions with Senators Cornyn and Tillis, who were adamant about seeing a written commitment from the Justice Department that the fund would not proceed before affirming their votes for Blanche’s confirmation. Blanche's assurance followed significant bipartisan opposition regarding the potential misuse of the fund, particularly concerns it could benefit those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots, according to Reuters and NPR.

Blanche, a former attorney for Trump, took on the role of acting Attorney General as the position continues to navigate partisan dynamics. He indicated that his team had engaged in "good faith discussions" with committee members to foster the necessary support for his nomination amid contentious legislative hearings concerning the fund's implications, according to CBS News and NPR.