President Donald Trump on Monday formally nominated Todd Blanche to serve permanently as attorney general, sending the nomination to the Senate for confirmation. Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since April.

Blanche previously worked as Trump's personal criminal defense attorney before joining his administration. He was appointed to the acting role after Trump dismissed former Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year. Trump had indicated earlier this week that Blanche would receive the nomination, calling him "a very talented guy" during a podcast interview.

The nomination sets up a potential confirmation battle in the Senate, where some Republican senators have expressed concerns about the pick. Blanche's tenure as acting attorney general has involved implementing several of Trump's directives at the Department of Justice, though the extent of potential Senate opposition remains unclear.

As acting attorney general, Blanche has overseen the Justice Department during a period of significant policy changes under the Trump administration. His formal nomination requires Senate confirmation to make his position permanent.

The nomination comes as Congress faces other pressing matters, including the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire soon. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been working to build support for extending the surveillance powers amid various political pressures.