Todd Blanche was sworn in as the U.S. attorney general at the White House on Monday. The ceremony followed a 50-49 Senate confirmation vote early Saturday morning, which took place during an overnight session before the legislative body adjourned for its August recess. Blanche, who previously served as the president's defense attorney, now formally leads the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The confirmation followed months of deliberation regarding Blanche's leadership of the department. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April, following the departure of Pam Bondi. Before that, Blanche served as deputy attorney general after being nominated for the role in November 2024. His legal career includes work as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and at various private law firms.
The Senate vote was closely contested, with Democrats opposing the nomination and several Republicans expressing reservations. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) initially raised concerns over a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund intended for payouts to individuals who claimed they were mistreated by the federal government. Blanche rescinded the directive establishing the fund last week, leading both senators to drop their opposition. The final margin was secured when Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced his support on Friday, despite opposition from Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
The narrow 50-49 vote reflects a divided Senate regarding the independence and management of the DOJ. Lawmakers and legal observers will be monitoring how Blanche handles pending federal litigation and department priorities following the "anti-weaponization" fund controversy. The specific scale of the fund—$1.8 billion—represented a significant proposed allocation of federal resources that has now been formally cancelled by the incoming attorney general.
The immediate effect of the swearing-in is the formalization of leadership at the DOJ, ending the period of acting leadership that began in April. With the Senate now on August recess, no further legislative oversight hearings are scheduled for the immediate future. Blanche's permanent status allows him to exercise full statutory authority over federal prosecutions, agency appointments, and department policy effective immediately. The long-term impact on department precedent regarding the appointment of a president's former personal counsel to the top law enforcement post will be determined by his actions in the coming months.