Senators Cornyn and Tillis demand written changes to Trump IRS settlement, stalling confirmation of Todd Blanche

Todd Blanche’s path to confirmation as U.S. Attorney General has been derailed by resistance from two senior Senate Republicans who say they want written proposals that would modify a Trump IRS settlement before they will support a final vote, Fox News reported on July 29, citing the senators’ demands.

Fox News said Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis asked for documentation outlining proposed changes to the settlement. Their refusal to “budge,” as described by the outlet, has prevented the confirmation process from reaching the point of a vote, keeping the Justice Department without the formally confirmed top role Blanche would fill.

The episode is occurring in the context of Senate confirmation procedures, where individual senators can seek assurances and additional commitments before allowing leadership to bring a nominee to the floor. In this case, Cornyn and Tillis tied their willingness to advance the nomination to receipt of written proposals addressing how the IRS settlement should be modified.

Because the senators’ request is focused on the terms and implementation of a settlement involving the Internal Revenue Service, their demand centers on how enforcement and litigation positions will be handled going forward. Fox News framed the dispute as a matter of documentation and clarity rather than a disagreement over generalized policy goals.

The practical effect of the impasse is a delay in filling the Attorney General post with a confirmed nominee. Until the Senate acts, the Justice Department’s leadership structure remains dependent on interim arrangements and existing statutory delegation of authority, which can affect timing for major policy initiatives and litigation management.

Cornyn and Tillis, both Republicans, represent the kind of intra-party leverage that can stall executive branch appointments even when a nominee is backed by the White House. Their demand for written proposals also indicates that they are seeking more than verbal commitments, aiming to reduce ambiguity about how any settlement modifications would work.

Fox News did not indicate that the White House or Blanche had abandoned the nomination. Instead, the report described the stalling as resulting from the senators’ stated conditions, suggesting the next step depends on whether written proposals addressing the settlement are provided in a form that satisfies Cornyn and Tillis.

If the documentation is delivered and accepted, Senate leadership could again attempt to advance Blanche. If not, the confirmation timeline could remain uncertain, with the Attorney General role continuing in a not-fully-confirmed status while the Senate resolves the condition raised by the two senators.