Todd Blanche Confirmed as Trump’s Attorney General in a 50-49 Senate Vote

The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday, making President Donald Trump’s former personal defense lawyer the permanent head of the Justice Department. The near party-line 50-49 vote followed weeks of uncertainty and pushback from within Trump’s Attorney General. Here is who Blanche is, why the vote was so close, and what supporters and critics each expect from his tenure.

Early on Saturday, 8 August 2026, the Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Todd Blanche as the 88th attorney general of the United States. The vote fell almost entirely along party lines. Two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined Democrats in voting against him. The vote was held in the early hours of the morning as a late-night session ran over, just ahead of the Senate’s planned summer recess.

Blanche, 52, had been serving as acting attorney general since April 2026, following the departure of Pam Bondi. He becomes the permanent head of the Justice Department after a confirmation process that his own party’s leaders described as unusually difficult.

Who Is Todd Blanche, Trump’s New Attorney General?

Blanche’s path to the top of the DOJ is unusual by any measure. Before entering politics, he was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. He later became the lead attorney on Trump’s attorney general-to-be defense team, representing the president in the New York hush money trial and in two federal criminal cases brought during the Biden administration.

That personal history is exactly what made his nomination controversial. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff, argued Blanche could never separate his loyalty to Trump from his duty to the country, while Sen. Dick Durbin called the confirmation a “serious mistake” at a moment when the nation needed an attorney general “above reproach.”

From Deputy AG to Acting AG to Confirmed AG

Blanche’s rise inside the Trump administration happened in stages:

• March 2025 – Confirmed by the Senate as Deputy Attorney General under Pam Bondi.
• April 2026 – Elevated to Acting Attorney General after Trump removed Bondi from the role.
• August 2026 – Confirmed by the full Senate as Attorney General, cementing the Trump and attorney general relationship that began during Trump’s criminal trials.

During his time as acting head of the DOJ, Blanche directed U.S. attorneys to prioritize violent crime, human and drug trafficking, and fraud in programs like Medicare and Medicaid. He was also central to establishing the controversial $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” a settlement tied to Trump and his family that became one of the biggest flashpoints in his confirmation fight, alongside questions about an IRS audit exemption for the president.

Why the Confirmation Was in Doubt

For weeks, Blanche’s nomination looked shaky. Concerns centered on:

• His handling of the anti-weaponization settlement fund
• His prior role as Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney
• Allegations of the DOJ pursuing cases against the administration’s political opponents

Murkowski said the country needed an attorney general Trump could not simply direct at will one who would “check the worst impulses of this administration.” Collins joined her in opposition. But with Cassidy’s late reversal, Republican leadership secured just enough votes to push the nomination through before the Senate’s summer recess.

What Blanche’s Confirmation Means for the DOJ

With Blanche now permanently in place, expect the Justice Department to continue moving in the direction it took under his acting leadership: an aggressive posture on immigration enforcement, continued scrutiny of political opponents, and a DOJ leadership team with deep personal ties to the president it serves. Supporters argue Blanche is a capable, hands-on administrator with real prosecutorial experience. Critics counter that his history as Trump’s personal lawyer makes true independence from the White House unlikely.

Either way, the confirmation locks in one of the clearest examples yet of how thoroughly the second Trump administration has reshaped federal law enforcement leadership around personal loyalty rather than institutional distance.

FAQ

Who is Trump’s attorney general now?

As of 8 August 2026, Todd Blanche is Trump’s attorney general. The Senate confirmed him in a 50-49 vote, making him the permanent head of the Justice Department after he had served as acting attorney general since April 2026.

What was the vote to confirm Trump’s attorney general? 

The Senate confirmed Blanche 50-49, almost entirely along party lines. Two Republicans, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voted against him alongside Democrats.

How many attorneys general has Trump had this term? 

This term, Trump’s attorneys general have been Pam Bondi, who served first, followed by Todd Blanche, who ran the department on an acting basis after Bondi’s departure and has now been confirmed permanently. People often search “Trump’s attorney generals” to compare the two.

Is Todd Blanche’s confirmation the same as a Trump executive order on the attorney general? 

No. Blanche’s confirmation was a Senate vote, not an executive order. The phrase “trump executive order attorney general” usually refers to Executive Order 14147, “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government,” which directs the Justice Department’s review of past investigations. That is a separate topic, covered in our dedicated explainer.

Who voted against Trump’s attorney general?

All voting Democrats opposed the nomination, joined by two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The final tally was 50-49.

Why was the confirmation controversial? 

Concerns centered on Blanche’s prior role as Trump’s personal defense lawyer, his involvement in a Trump-related IRS settlement, and a roughly $1.776 billion fund he rescinded shortly before the vote. Supporters emphasized his legal experience and administrative record.

Wasn’t Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche Trump’s former personal attorney? 

Yes. Before joining the Justice Department, Todd Blanche served as one of Donald Trump’s personal defense attorneys, representing him in the New York hush money trial and in two federal criminal cases brought under the Biden administration. That background was a central point of criticism during both his 2025 confirmation as Deputy Attorney General and his 2026 confirmation as Attorney General.

When was Todd Blanche confirmed as attorney general? 

The Senate confirmed Blanche as attorney general in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 8, 2026, by a vote of 50-49.

Who did Todd Blanche replace as attorney general? 

Blanche succeeded Pam Bondi, who was removed from the role by President Trump in April 2026. Blanche served as acting attorney general from April 2026 until his confirmation.

Which senators voted against Blanche’s confirmation? 

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only members of the GOP to vote against Blanche, joining all Senate Democrats in opposition.

What is the Anti-Weaponization Fund tied to Blanche’s confirmation fight?

 It refers to a $1.8 billion settlement fund established under Blanche’s leadership at the DOJ, intended to compensate individuals who say they were mistreated by the criminal justice system. Critics say it also benefited Trump and his family, making it a major sticking point in the Senate’s review of his nomination.

References & Sources

• CNN Politics – Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general
• NBC News – Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general after weeks of uncertainty
• Bloomberg – Todd Blanche Confirmed by Senate as Trump’s Attorney General
• Roll Call – Todd Blanche confirmed by Senate as attorney general
• U.S. News & World Report – Todd Blanche Narrowly Confirmed as Trump’s Attorney General in Overnight Vote
• The Hill – Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general after bruising fight
• Federal Register / govinfo – Executive Order 14147, Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government