Todd Blanche Confirmed as Attorney General — The 50-49 Vote That Could Reshape the Justice Department

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The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday in a razor-thin 50-49 vote, capping one of the most contentious cabinet fights of Trump’s second term after bipartisan concerns over Blanche’s independence nearly derailed the nomination.

Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general since taking over from Pam Bondi in April, won confirmation with Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joining all Democrats in opposition. The vote wasn’t assured until Friday morning, when Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) — who has been a thorn for Trump — announced he would back Blanche.

The Path to Confirmation

Blanche’s nomination faced significant hurdles. His confirmation was thrown into doubt after Murkowski announced her opposition Friday, narrowing his path in a chamber where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) had postponed a scheduled confirmation vote earlier due to key Republican holdouts.

During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in July, Blanche told senators that the “anti-weaponization” fund is “dead”. He had previously pledged to walk back the nearly $2 billion fund after blowback from Republican senators during his confirmation hearings. The Trump administration ultimately abandoned the president’s $1.8 billion “weaponization” fund after a rare backlash from Republican senators.

Why It Matters

Critics have raised concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department, noting Trump has a “stated desire to use the law enforcement agency to investigate his political enemies”. While Blanche has already been leading the department in an acting capacity, his confirmation could free him to pursue the Trump administration’s agenda even more aggressively.

What Leaders Are Saying

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley applauded the outcome, saying he “successfully advanced Blanche’s” nomination. Senate Republicans shrugged off Democratic concerns over politicization of the Department of Justice.

The Bottom Line

Blanche’s narrow confirmation sets the stage for a Justice Department that could aggressively pursue Trump’s political agenda while facing ongoing scrutiny from Democrats who warn of a politicized agency.

Senators Head Home Without Meeting Trump’s Voting Bill Demands — What the Standoff Means for the Midterms

Senators headed for the exits in the predawn hours Saturday, ending for now a crushing standoff over President Donald Trump’s demands that they stay in session to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill before the summer recess.

Led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a growing group of senators was refusing to adjourn for the summer break without passing Trump’s priority voting legislation. But the effort ultimately stalled, delaying the fight until September.

The SAVE America Act

Trump has made the SAVE America Act his legislative priority in 2026, saying it would “guarantee the midterms” for Republicans. He demanded earlier this week that Senate Majority Leader John Thune cancel the chamber’s August break until senators passed the bill.

The bill would require strict proof of citizenship to register to vote, a measure Trump has argued would “guarantee” election integrity. However, the Senate has already voted five times on the legislation but has failed to entice enough Democrats to overcome the 60-vote threshold for ending a filibuster.

A Slimmer Effort Fails

The Republicans also tried to push forward a slimmer voting bill that would require people to show IDs before casting ballots for federal elections, but it failed to advance.

What Happens Next

Trump had poked and prodded Senate Majority Leader John Thune for weeks to pass the SAVE America Act. President Trump and Senate conservatives reached a deal Friday night to set aside a vote on a budget resolution and defer action on much of the SAVE America Act until after the August recess.

The Senate also passed a deal to avoid a government shutdown before recess, but without advancing the voting bill.

The Bottom Line

The standoff has been delayed until September — but not resolved. With the midterms less than 90 days away, the fight over voting rights and election integrity is far from over. The Senate has now voted five times on the SAVE America Act without success, and the question of whether Trump can deliver on his signature voting legislation remains unanswered.