Acting Attorney General Blanche Testifies on Oversight of Justice Department

This was a congressional budget oversight hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 19, 2026, featuring Acting Attorney General Blanche testifying on the Department of Justice's (DOJ) fiscal year 2027 budget request and departmental priorities. The DOJ requested an overall increase of approximately $4.7 billion (12-13%) above FY26 levels, including a $2.2 billion (27%) increase for the Bureau of Prisons to address staffing shortages and maintenance backlogs. The budget also proposed $22.2 billion for law enforcement components, a 16% increase, to support violent crime reduction, fentanyl enforcement, immigration courts modernization, and a new National Fraud Enforcement Division with $30 million to hire 100 attorneys. The DOJ is consolidating grant programs into a new Bureau of Justice Grants to improve efficiency, though some cuts to violence against women programs and youth mentoring were noted with concern by senators. A significant topic was the establishment of a $1.88 billion fund to compensate individuals allegedly targeted by the Biden administration, funded from the judgment fund, with a five-member commission appointed by the Attorney General to oversee claims. Senators raised concerns about the fund's structure, transparency, and eligibility criteria. Other procurement-related discussions included funding for the DEA's new drug lab in New Hampshire, the National Tracing Center, and the reorganization of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. The hearing also addressed DOJ's efforts to improve grant distribution timeliness, combat fraud in Medicaid and other programs, and support state and local law enforcement partnerships. Several senators questioned the Acting Attorney General on DOJ's handling of sensitive victim information, staffing challenges, and political interference. No formal votes or motions were recorded during the hearing.