Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche secured enough Senate committee support to advance his confirmation only after agreeing to terminate a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” according to The Federalist. The move highlights ongoing tensions between President Trump’s administration and skeptical Republican senators as the party looks toward upcoming midterm elections.
Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas ultimately voted to advance Blanche out of committee last week, but not before President Trump publicly criticized them for their opposition. The two senators’ support appeared contingent on Blanche’s commitment to scrap the controversial fund.
The Anti-Weaponization Fund
The fund in question was announced in May as part of a settlement in Trump’s civil lawsuit against the IRS over the 2020 leak of his tax returns. Rather than accepting personal compensation, Trump designated the $1.776 billion to provide relief to supporters who could demonstrate they were unfairly targeted by what he characterized as government weaponization during the Biden administration.
The fund faced immediate legal challenges. Leftist judges moved to enjoin its creation, while Democratic figures including former FBI Director James Comey suggested they would file lawsuits claiming to be victims of government weaponization under Trump.
Tillis had signaled his opposition to the fund before the confirmation hearings. The North Carolina senator has emerged as one of the most vocal Trump critics in the Republican caucus, particularly on immigration enforcement. He previously blocked the confirmation of Ed Martin as U.S. district attorney for Washington, D.C., specifically because of Martin’s legal support for individuals prosecuted after the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident.
Immigration Policy Divides
Both Tillis and Cornyn have broken with Trump’s hardline immigration stance. Cornyn has run campaign advertisements in Spanish and publicly supported legal status for “dreamers”—undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. He has also expressed support for increased Muslim and Indian immigration to Texas, positions that conflict with elements of the MAGA base.
Cornyn recently announced he would block Trump nominees until the administration restored funding for an AIDS relief program in Africa, adding another point of friction between the Texas senator and the White House.
Primary Defeats Reshape Senate GOP
Several anti-Trump Republican senators face political consequences for their resistance. According to The Federalist, Cornyn suffered a primary defeat in May to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is expected to win the general election in November. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana also lost his primary to Julia Letlow, who received Trump’s endorsement.
Tillis announced he will retire at the end of his current term rather than face a potential primary challenge.
Remaining Obstacles
Despite advancing out of committee, Blanche’s nomination still faces uncertainty on the Senate floor. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has announced her opposition to the nomination. Other potential Republican opponents include Murkowski of Alaska and Cassidy, who remains in office until his term expires.
The Federalist noted that both Tillis and Cornyn, as lame-duck senators with nothing to lose politically, could still pose obstacles during the full Senate vote.
Midterm Implications
Trump supporters argue that intraparty obstruction threatens Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections by preventing the administration from accumulating legislative victories. They point specifically to the stalled SAVE America Act, which they contend could help secure future elections.
The confirmation battle over Blanche represents a broader struggle over the Republican Party’s direction. Trump allies maintain that establishment senators continue to resist the party’s populist transformation on issues including immigration restriction, law enforcement, and foreign policy.
The Senate GOP has declined to eliminate the filibuster or reform the “blue slip” process for judicial confirmations—procedural changes that Trump supporters argue would accelerate the administration’s agenda.
Whether Blanche, if confirmed, might attempt to restore the Anti-Weaponization Fund or create an equivalent program after Tillis and Cornyn leave office remains an open question as the confirmation process moves to the full Senate.
Source: thefederalist.com — https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/07/rinos-are-tanking-the-entire-republican-party-not-just-trump/