The White House played a direct role in Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's decision to rescind the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Director of Legislative Affairs James Braid were notably involved in the negotiations. President Donald Trump was informed about the agreement but stated he did not personally review it, expressing that he still viewed the fund positively but acknowledged there were no plans to revive it.
Frustration had built within the White House regarding Senate Republicans John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who were seen as leveraging their positions during the nomination process for Blanche. Despite Trump's support for the fund, he was advised by his team that rescinding it was necessary to facilitate Blanche's confirmation as attorney general.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal lawyer, sought Senate confirmation and was viewed favorably within the White House. The negotiations involved multiple drafts of a memo addressing concerns raised by Cornyn's staff. On August 3, Blanche announced the formal rescission of the fund and clarified terms related to IRS protections. However, some legal experts within the Justice Department questioned the binding nature of the rescission, as it lacked signatures from Trump's current legal team. Cornyn and Tillis defended the agreement, asserting its legal validity.