Senate Judiciary Committee schedules mid-July confirmation hearings for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche

The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled confirmation hearings for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in mid-July, according to a report by The Washington Times on June 16. The hearing timeline would put Blanche before the committee ahead of any full Senate consideration to confirm him as attorney general, a step that depends on both committee action and a subsequent floor vote.

Blanche is currently serving in the attorney general post on an acting basis, meaning he continues to direct the Justice Department while the confirmation process is pending. Confirmation hearings are held in the committee as part of the Senate’s constitutional role to provide advice and consent on executive-branch nominations, including nominations for cabinet-level offices.

The Judiciary Committee’s scheduling comes as some Republicans remain undecided about whether to support Blanche for the top Justice Department position. The report did not identify which members are withholding support or describe the specific concerns under consideration, but it characterized the situation as a lack of consensus within the Republican conference.

If Blanche’s nomination advances from the Judiciary Committee, the next stage would be consideration by the full Senate. Under Senate practice, committee hearings can include testimony from the nominee, questions from senators, and the submission of written materials. The committee typically votes on whether to advance a nomination to the floor after the hearing record is established.

For the Justice Department, the practical effect of the timing is that Blanche would continue carrying out the department’s enforcement and litigation responsibilities during the period before confirmation. Until a senator is confirmed and sworn in, an acting official generally maintains the same operational authority over day-to-day functions and major cases, while the nomination remains in process.

The Senate’s calendar also affects what issues can be addressed in the public record during the hearings, particularly questions that senators may raise about the department’s litigation posture, federal enforcement priorities, and internal oversight. In the weeks leading up to the hearing, senators often submit follow-up questions and seek additional information, which becomes part of the committee record even if the nomination’s final outcome remains in doubt.