Overview
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed a formal order Monday that rescinded the May 18 directive establishing the roughly $1.8 billion fund and stated the fund "is rescinded and shall have no force or effect."
- The Justice Department said the fund never became operational, noting no members were appointed, no money was transferred, no claims process was created, and no payments were made.
- Two Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, said they will back advancing Blanche’s nomination to a committee vote scheduled for Tuesday, removing a key hold on his confirmation.
- Blanche also narrowed the settlement’s tax-audit protection by saying it applies only retroactively to claims open at the time of the deal and does not block future IRS examinations.
- Major legal and political questions remain because the underlying settlement is still being litigated and President Trump has signaled he may try to revive the fund through other orders or legislation.