Trump Taps Todd Blanche for AG, Unveils $700M Coal Rescue Plan
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will nominate Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, elevating his former personal defense lawyer who has aggressively pursued the president’s agenda as acting head of the Justice Department. The announcement came as Trump also prepared to unveil nearly $700 million in new federal support for the struggling coal industry, signaling a major push on two key administration priorities.
Blanche Nomination: From Defense Lawyer to Top Law Enforcer
Trump made the announcement at a White House Rose Garden dinner on June 3, according to AP News, with the formal nomination expected on Thursday. “We are going to make him permanent attorney general,” Trump said at the event, according to a video posted on social media by a White House aide.
Blanche, 51, has served as acting attorney general since April 2, when Trump fired Pam Bondi over what he described as her failed efforts to prosecute his political opponents. A former federal prosecutor who served as Trump’s lead defense attorney in his New York hush-money trial, classified documents case, and federal election obstruction case, Blanche was confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025 by a 52-46 vote largely along party lines.
His tenure as acting AG has been marked by controversy. Blanche accelerated investigations into Trump’s perceived political opponents, including the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over a social media photo of seashells and the appointment of Joseph diGenova to investigate whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired to undermine Trump. He also proposed a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” meant to compensate Trump allies for alleged political persecution — a plan that sparked a bipartisan firestorm and was scrapped on June 2.
The fund controversy prompted backlash from Senate Republicans whose support Blanche will need for confirmation. Blanche was a registered Democrat before 2024, switching to Republican that year.
$700 Million Coal Industry Rescue
On Thursday, Trump is expected to announce nearly $700 million in new federal support for the coal industry at an Oval Office event dubbed “Beautiful, Clean Coal,” according to AP News.
The funding package includes $425 million to support 13 existing coal-fired power plants across 10 states, $75 million for a new coal export terminal in Oakland, California, and approximately $200 million in Department of Energy grants to build two new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia — the first new U.S. coal plants since 2013 — and restart a coal plant in Maryland.
Trump will invoke the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era law granting presidents emergency authority over national security-related industries, to authorize the spending. The White House says the initiative will support or create more than 14,000 jobs in coal, construction, rail, and maritime industries.
Coal once provided more than half of U.S. electricity, but its share dropped to about 15% in 2024, down from about 45% in 2010. Natural gas now provides about 43% of U.S. electricity, with the remainder from nuclear energy and renewables. The announcement follows earlier Trump moves including opening 13 million acres of federal lands for coal mining and providing $625 million to recommission coal plants.
Environmental and Political Backlash
Environmental groups denounced the plan. Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told AP News that the administration is “propping up coal billionaires with taxpayer money” and putting “polluters first.” “The best thing for the air, the climate and our utility bills is to let these plants retire peacefully,” Kennedy said.
Critics argue the coal subsidies will result in higher electricity bills for consumers compared to cheaper alternatives like natural gas and renewables. The use of the Defense Production Act for coal support could also face legal challenges.
Broader Implications
The simultaneous announcements underscore the Trump administration’s dual focus on consolidating political control over the Justice Department while doubling down on fossil fuel production despite market forces pushing toward cleaner energy sources. Blanche’s nomination represents a continuation of Trump’s efforts to place personal loyalists atop the Justice Department, raising questions about the department’s independence from White House political influence.
Blanche will face Senate confirmation hearings in the coming weeks, where the $1.8 billion fund controversy and his aggressive pursuit of Trump’s agenda are expected to be central topics. Meanwhile, the coal announcement is likely to intensify debates over U.S. climate policy and the administration’s use of emergency powers for energy infrastructure.
What to Watch
Key questions moving forward include whether Blanche can secure Senate confirmation amid Republican concerns over the fund controversy, whether the Defense Production Act coal funding will withstand legal scrutiny, and how these policies will affect U.S. climate commitments and international relations. The administration’s energy strategy also faces headwinds from declining global coal demand and reduced exports to China due to ongoing tariff disputes.