Todd Blanche arrives at the Department of Justice and begins his tenure as U.S. attorney general after being confirmed by the Senate in a closely divided vote. Multiple outlets note the confirmation follows weeks of scrutiny and an exceptionally contentious nomination process.

Several reports emphasize what the change means for the Justice Department’s relationship to the White House. The New York Times frames the nomination as a shift toward greater presidential control, while other coverage focuses on the procedural path to confirmation, including delays and additional hurdles involving Republican senators. The New York Times and other outlets also highlight disputes over the department’s independence, with some sources describing concerns from within DOJ about whether career prosecutors and investigators are being pressured or sidelined.

At the center of the debate is a $1.8 billion “slush fund” arrangement linked to Trump allies, which a judge rules on as illegitimate and which lawmakers cite in discussions of assurances. The Guardian and South China Morning Post report that Republican holdouts move toward support after assurances that the fund will not proceed. Other outlets, including the New Republic, publish criticism from former DOJ staff and prosecutors who argue Blanche’s actions threaten institutional independence.