Todd Blanche

Rule Changes

In office; certified the ATRC application

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court existed for 30 years before anyone used it. On Friday the Justice Department announced its first case: Nazira Haji Zada, a lawful permanent resident in Fort Worth, Texas, was deported to Afghanistan after conceding she was an "alien terrorist."

Updated 3 hours ago

Force in Play

Announced the takedown on August 26, 2026

The US Justice Department and FBI seized three internet domains on August 26, disabling two hacking platforms that Chinese state-sponsored operators used against NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Justice Department, and the US Senate. The takedown shut down QScan and QTRouter, tools the group known as QTFY had run since at least 2018.

Updated Aug 27

Money Moves

Sent mixed signals on the settlement fund

ICE and Border Patrol budgets normally have to be renegotiated every year, which gives both parties leverage during shutdown fights. Early Friday, the Senate voted 52-47 to fund them for three years straight, through the end of President Trump's term.

Updated Jun 5

Rule Changes

Reversed defiant stance; DOJ now complying with court order; fund dropped

The Trump administration dropped its $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund on June 1, less than two weeks after creating it. Three forces killed it: a court freeze in Alexandria, a Senate Republican revolt that stalled the reconciliation bill, and a meeting between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump. No claims were ever paid.

Updated Jun 2

Force in Play

Overseeing Comey prosecution and DOJ operations; seeking permanent AG appointment

James Comey deleted an Instagram post within hours—a fifteen-character image of '8647' written above seashells. A North Carolina grand jury charged him with two counts of threatening the President over that same image. The April 28, 2026 indictment is the second federal case Trump's Justice Department brought against the former FBI Director; a Virginia case filed in September 2025 was dismissed when a judge ruled the interim prosecutor unlawfully appointed. Judge Louise Wood Flanagan issued an arrest warrant, though Comey may self-surrender, and he responded on Substack: 'I'm still innocent. I'm still not afraid.'

Updated May 31

Rule Changes

Serving as acting attorney general as of April 2, 2026; simultaneously holding acting Librarian of Congress position; facing legal challenges to dual roles

President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, replacing her with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in the Manhattan criminal trial before joining the DOJ. He's the fourth Justice Department leader under Trump, after Sessions, Barr, and Bondi. Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans signaled they'd consider EPA administrator Lee Zeldin as permanent replacement. Legal scholars questioned whether Blanche could simultaneously serve as both acting attorney general and acting Librarian of Congress.

Updated May 30

Force in Play

Overseeing federal response to state lawsuits and Good shooting investigation

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denied Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order against Operation Metro Surge on February 2, 2026. She cited insufficient proof of constitutional violations, though she acknowledged evidence of racial profiling and excessive force.

Updated May 20

Force in Play

Overseeing decision not to investigate ICE and Border Patrol shootings

Three Minnesota congresswomen entered a Minneapolis ICE detention center on January 10 but were ordered out minutes later. They'd come three days after an ICE agent shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good in the head during what the Trump administration called the largest immigration enforcement operation ever. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem secretly signed a seven-day notice rule the day after Good's killing—a rule a federal judge had already blocked—and Judge Jia Cobb refused to block it on January 20.

Updated May 20

Rule Changes

Announced final Epstein files release on January 30, declaring DOJ compliance complete

Jeffrey Epstein is dead, but his paper trail has led to immediate legal battles. On January 30, 2026, the Justice Department released more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images.

Updated May 14