Trump could keep Todd Blanche atop DOJ even if Senate confirmation stalls

Published June 4, 2026 12:40pm ET | Updated June 4, 2026 12:41pm ET



Deputy White House chief of staff Dan Scavino predicted Wednesday that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s Senate confirmation would move “very quickly,” offering the clearest indication yet that the administration intends to seek Senate approval for one of President Donald Trump’s closest legal allies.

Scavino announced Wednesday that the president plans to nominate Blanche to serve as attorney general permanently after months leading the Justice Department in an acting capacity following the firing of former Attorney General Pam Bondi in April. But if Blanche encounters trouble on Capitol Hill, a little-known Biden administration precedent could provide the White House with another option.

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