Todd Blanche sworn in after narrow Senate confirmation

Todd Blanche was sworn in as the 88th attorney general of the United States on August 10, 2026, two days after the Senate confirmed him by a 50-49 vote. The confirmation placed President Donald Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer in the Justice Department’s top job with a completed Senate appointment rather than an acting designation.

The appointment does not change the attorney general’s statutory powers. Its institutional significance is that Blanche now leads the department with the permanence and congressional approval of a confirmed appointment as the administration faces continuing questions about presidential influence, ethics and the independence of federal law enforcement.

What changed after the Senate vote

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s confirmation record lists Blanche’s August 8 confirmation as Record Vote No. 230. The vote was 50-49, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining every Democrat in opposition, according to the Associated Press.

Before becoming attorney general, Blanche served as deputy attorney general. He had previously represented Trump in three criminal cases brought against the president in 2023 and 2024, according to the Justice Department’s biography. AP reported that Blanche had also been leading DOJ in an acting capacity before the Senate vote.

That relationship with Trump was central to the confirmation fight. Senators debated whether Blanche could maintain the department’s independence while carrying out administration priorities and overseeing politically sensitive investigations.

Why the attorney general’s role matters

The Justice Department describes the attorney general as the head of the department and the federal government’s chief law-enforcement officer. The office represents the United States in legal matters, advises the president and executive-department heads, and guides the central federal agency for enforcing federal law.

That authority reaches across the country. Decisions made under Blanche can affect federal prosecutions, national investigations, the government’s arguments in court, oversight of federal law-enforcement agencies and legal guidance given to other parts of the executive branch.

For the public, the practical question is not whether confirmation created new legal powers. It is how Blanche uses the authority he already exercised while acting, now backed by a completed Senate appointment.

Why the confirmation was contentious

The confirmation fight focused in part on Blanche’s relationship with Trump and concerns about presidential influence over the department. AP reported that Republican concerns intensified over a proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization compensation fund connected to a settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS.

Blanche gave written assurances that the department would abandon the proposed fund and limit part of the IRS settlement designed to protect Trump and his family from tax audits. AP reported that he formally rescinded the fund under pressure from Republican senators. Those assurances helped clear the way for confirmation, but they are commitments rather than proof of how future decisions will be carried out.

The fund was proposed and later rescinded; it was not a completed payout program. The broader dispute over presidential influence and DOJ independence remained after the vote, with criticism coming from both Democratic senators and some Republicans.

Blanche’s first message to employees

On August 13, Blanche addressed the Justice Department workforce in his first speech since taking control of the agency. The department’s official record says he shared his vision for the future of DOJ.

AP reported that Blanche pledged to uphold the rule of law “without fear or favor,” listen to employees and welcome disagreement. He also acknowledged that he would not make every decision correctly and said he would consider adjustments when needed.

The address came as AP described a workforce affected by mass firings and resignations, alongside politically charged investigations that have prompted concerns the department is being used against Trump’s perceived opponents. Justice Connection, a network of former DOJ employees, said Blanche’s assurances would matter only if his actions matched his words.

The accountability test ahead

The most meaningful evidence of Blanche’s leadership will come from specific decisions, not from the confirmation itself or from his opening speech. Key issues to watch include recusals, investigative priorities, personnel actions, compliance with court orders and responses to congressional and inspector-general oversight.

Blanche’s assurances about the compensation fund and IRS settlement will also be tested through the department’s actual filings, policies and enforcement decisions. Those records will show whether the department’s conduct matches his promise to apply the law without fear or favor.

Blanche now has the permanence of a confirmed attorney general. The central accountability question is whether that stronger mandate produces consistent and transparent federal enforcement—or intensifies concerns about presidential control of the Justice Department.

Sources

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