Cornyn says DOJ settlement tied to IRS lawsuit must be formally modified before Blanche AG nomination can move

Senate Republican Sen. John Cornyn said he is blocking movement on President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche, pending “formal” changes to a Justice Department agreement reached to resolve Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. CBS News reported that Cornyn’s demand centers on the “fate” of a DOJ-described “anti-weaponization fund,” which was part of the settlement framework tied to the IRS dispute.

According to CBS News, Cornyn asked for formal modifications to the agreement rather than relying on the understanding that accompanied the settlement. Cornyn’s position, as described by CBS News, links the timing of Blanche’s nomination to whether the Justice Department will provide written assurance about how the “anti-weaponization fund” will be treated going forward.

CBS News reported that Cornyn’s demand follows the Justice Department’s decision to settle Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS through an agreement with terms that included the anti-weaponization fund concept. The report described that Cornyn is seeking additional clarity on what happens to that fund after the settlement, framing the issue as one that should be resolved in a definitive, formal instrument before the Senate considers Blanche for the top Justice Department post.

The Justice Department’s internal structure and oversight make nomination timelines sensitive to questions about enforcement priorities, spending mechanisms, and how settlements are carried out. In the attorney general confirmation process, senators often raise concerns about how past or prospective department actions will be administered, including how any special-purpose arrangements function within the department’s legal authorities. In this case, Cornyn’s concern, as reported, is specifically about the legal and practical status of the anti-weaponization fund described in the IRS settlement context.

CBS News also reported that Cornyn demanded modifications “to an agreement the Justice Department made” as part of resolving Trump’s IRS litigation. The report said Blanche’s nomination has been kept on hold while Cornyn seeks these changes, indicating that the issue is now playing out as a Senate process dispute rather than as a separate court proceeding.

Cornyn’s demand raises questions about whether DOJ will change the settlement document or issue an accompanying formal modification, and whether that step will satisfy the senator’s request. If the requested modifications are not made, CBS News reported that Cornyn would continue to keep the nomination from moving forward.