Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Testifies at Justice Department Oversight Hearing

This hearing before a House Appropriations subcommittee on June 2, 2026, featured Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch testifying on the Department of Justice's (DOJ) fiscal year 2027 budget request and various departmental priorities. The DOJ requested $41.22 billion, a 13% increase over the previous year, emphasizing funding for violent crime reduction, fentanyl interdiction, immigration enforcement, and the newly established National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Acting Attorney General highlighted historic law enforcement successes, including arrests and seizures related to violent crime and drug trafficking, and discussed plans to modernize grant processes by consolidating several grant offices into the Bureau of Justice Grants. Members raised concerns about stalled projects, grant delays, and the controversial anti-weaponization fund, which the Acting Attorney General stated would not move forward. The hearing also covered DOJ efforts to support state and local law enforcement, information sharing initiatives, and enforcement of federal laws related to firearms and abortion-inducing drugs. Contentious exchanges occurred regarding DOJ's handling of pardons, transparency in high-profile investigations, and allegations of political influence. No specific contract awards or procurement decisions were detailed, but the discussion of budget allocations and grant program consolidations indicates ongoing procurement and funding activities within the DOJ.