America First Nomination: Todd Blanche

Biography

Todd W. Blanche currently serves as Acting Attorney General and as the 40th Deputy Attorney General of the United States. He began his nearly 15-year Justice Department career as a contractor and paralegal in the Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) while attending law school at night. He later became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in SDNY’s Violent Crimes Unit, where he spent eight years prosecuting serious offenses and eventually served as co-chief, supervising prosecutors handling murders, kidnappings, racketeering, fraud, and other violent crimes. After leaving government service, Blanche became a defense attorney and represented President Donald Trump in three criminal cases during 2023 and 2024. The Senate confirmed him as Deputy Attorney General by a 52–46 vote on March 5, 2025. His experience as a prosecutor, supervisor, defense attorney, Deputy Attorney General, and Acting Attorney General has prepared him to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). (DOJ biography; career background)

America First Credentials

Supports

Advocate for Law Enforcement

Blanche has emphasized cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. His nomination is supported by organizations including the National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs’ Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, and Major Cities Chiefs Association. Together, supporting organizations represent more than 670,000 sworn law-enforcement officers.

Twenty-three state attorneys general also credited Blanche with strengthening federal-state cooperation on violent crime, drug trafficking, consumer protection, and other public-safety issues. (State attorneys general’s letter)

Blanche has also acted to protect federal officers from doxing, harassment, and interference with their duties, including through a Justice Department challenge to Connecticut restrictions on federal law-enforcement officers.

Protecting Constitutional Rights and Religious Liberty

Blanche issued updated federal religious-liberty guidance directing executive agencies to comply with the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Title VII, and recent Supreme Court precedent. The guidance addresses equal treatment for religious organizations, parental rights, church autonomy, and religious accommodations in federal programs and employment.

Protecting American Taxpayers

As Deputy Attorney General, Blanche announced that False Claims Act settlements and judgments had reached a record $6.8 billion during fiscal year 2025. As Acting Attorney General, he formally established the National Fraud Enforcement Division to coordinate federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local efforts against fraud involving taxpayer dollars and federally funded programs.

Equal Treatment Under the Law

Blanche has supported enforcing civil-rights laws without race- or sex-based preferences. Under his leadership, DOJ announced a $17.1 million settlement resolving allegations that IBM engaged in discriminatory DEI practices.

DOJ also concluded that certain USDA preferences for “socially disadvantaged” farmers violated constitutional equal-protection principles, while confirming that USDA could continue providing assistance through race- and sex-neutral programs.

Opposes

Violent Crime, Drug Cartels, and Fentanyl Trafficking

Blanche’s record includes nearly a decade prosecuting violent crime in SDNY and overseeing current DOJ efforts against gangs, cartels, illegal firearms, and narcotics. Under his leadership, Operation Spring Cleaning produced more than 1,100 arrests, over 600 charges, the seizure of almost 1,000 illegal firearms, and more than 2,700 pounds of drugs—including nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl.

A separate nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown charged more than 25 defendants and seized over 80 firearms, approximately 18 kilograms of narcotics, and more than $100,000. DOJ reported that more than 260 members and associates of Tren de Aragua had been federally charged since January 20, 2025.

Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking

During Blanche’s tenure as Acting Attorney General, Operation Iron Pursuit located more than 200 child victims and resulted in the arrest of over 350 alleged child-sex-abuse offenders during a one-month nationwide operation involving all 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ offices.

Blanche also established a single National Coordinator for Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking to coordinate federal prosecutions, improve information sharing, support victims, and update DOJ’s national strategy.

Fraudulent Practices and Scams

Blanche has made government-program, consumer, and health-care fraud central DOJ priorities. The 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown charged 455 defendants—including 90 doctors and other licensed professionals—in connection with more than $6.5 billion in alleged fraud. The operation involved 56 federal districts, 45 states and territories, and the largest number of participating state Medicaid Fraud Control Units in DOJ history.

Weaponization of Government and Religious Targeting

As chair of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, Blanche coordinated a government-wide report examining federal policies, prosecutions, and practices that the task force determined reflected anti-Christian bias. The review included input from 17 federal agencies and meetings with more than 100 stakeholders and alleged victims.

America First Achievements

Todd Blanche has overseen significant America First accomplishments at the Department of Justice, including:

Launching the National Fraud Enforcement Division

Established a specialized DOJ division devoted to investigating and prosecuting fraud against taxpayers and federally funded programs.

Delivering a Historic Health Care Fraud Takedown

Charged 455 defendants in alleged schemes involving more than $6.5 billion, while expanding federal, state, and international cooperation.

Combating Gang Violence and Drug Trafficking

Oversaw Operation Spring Cleaning, resulting in more than 1,100 arrests and major seizures of illegal firearms, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and other drugs.

Protecting Children from Exploitation

Oversaw Operation Iron Pursuit, which located more than 200 child victims and arrested more than 350 alleged offenders, and subsequently appointed a national coordinator for child exploitation and human trafficking.

Defending Equal Treatment and Religious Liberty

Issued updated religious-liberty protections and pursued enforcement actions against allegedly discriminatory race- and sex-based programs.