Story perspectives

Trump Nominates Blanche as AG, DOJ Cancels $1.8B Fund

6/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Justice Department announced it will not proceed with the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
President Donald Trump said he will nominate Todd Blanche (acting Attorney General) as U.S. Attorney General.
Todd Blanche (acting Attorney General) has led investigations into the Southern Poverty Law Center and former FBI Director James Comey since April.
Republican senators said the fund’s cancellation could clear a path for the administration’s $72 billion immigration enforcement package.

History

Historical Context

President Bill Clinton’s 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, administered by Attorney General Janet Reno, created a federal assault-weapon ban that ended on September 13 2004. Studies later linked the ban to a 70 % drop in mass-shooting deaths and found assault weapons made up 22-36 % of crime guns recovered in 2018. Today’s DOJ funding cut reflects a similar shift away from federal gun-policy initiatives.

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Story summary

The Justice Department announced it will not proceed with the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
President Donald Trump said he will nominate Todd Blanche (acting Attorney General) as U.S. Attorney General.
Todd Blanche (acting Attorney General) has led investigations into the Southern Poverty Law Center and former FBI Director James Comey since April.
Republican senators said the fund’s cancellation could clear a path for the administration’s $72 billion immigration enforcement package.

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