WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded a plan to create a $1.8 billion fund intended for President Trump's political allies, a concession that removes a key obstacle in his confirmation process.
Blanche released a letter saying the fund "is not moving forward." The move came after weeks of resistance from the administration and direct pressure from two Republican senators.
Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had demanded the fund's cancellation. Both sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee and had blocked Blanche's permanent nomination over the issue.
The initiative, which the administration dubbed the "anti-weaponization fund," was part of a deal struck with the Internal Revenue Service. That deal also included provisions aimed at shielding Trump and his family from past tax audits.
Trump threatened to revive the fund over the weekend if Cornyn and Tillis did not drop their objections. Blanche's letter, however, did not condemn the fund or spell out what he would do if the president ordered its revival.
Even with that concession, Blanche's broader support among Senate Republicans remains uncertain. The party holds tight margins in the chamber, and a handful of defections could sink his confirmation on the floor.
The fund's cancellation is one flashpoint in a wider standoff between Trump and Senate Republicans as a congressional recess approaches at week's end.
Another source of friction is Trump's push for the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship and photo identification to cast a ballot.
Trump has publicly criticized Senate Majority Leader John Thune for the slow pace on the legislation, suggesting the Senate should eliminate the filibuster to advance it.
The tension came into the open when Trump, asked recently whether he had confidence in Thune, declined to offer a clear endorsement.
