Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
Judge halts taxpayer-funded Trump administration ads for at least 14 days
A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from running ads paid for with Department of Homeland Security funds.
The order lasts at least 14 days and also requires the administration to cancel the rest of a $20 million ad-time purchase.
Common Cause, Robert Hunter, SEIU Local 32BJ and the Empire State 32BJ SEIU PAC sued to stop the ads.
They argued that the spots were political messages paid for with public money, and one was almost identical to an ad made for Trump’s 2024 campaign.
The administration had said the ads were public service announcements, but the judge found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their case and that an injunction served the public interest.
The Department of Homeland Security had said in a court filing that the ads would not continue past Sunday.
Trump said his political action committee, MAGA Inc., would begin funding the campaign, but he did not say whether the government would be repaid for costs already incurred.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to stop running taxpayer-funded ads for at least 14 days.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon issued a temporary restraining order barring the use of Department of Homeland Security funds for the ads.
The order also requires the administration to cancel the remaining part of a $20 million ad-time purchase.
The plaintiffs argued that the ads were political and improperly funded by taxpayers, while the administration had described them as public service announcements.
The judge found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their case and that an injunction served the public interest.
- Who
- U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon issued the order. Common Cause, Robert Hunter, Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ and Empire State 32BJ SEIU PAC brought the suit.
- What
- The judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from using Department of Homeland Security funds for the ads and ordered it to cancel the remaining ad-time purchase.
- When
- The order was reported on October 12, 2026, and bars the ads for at least 14 days.
- Where
- The case was before a federal court; the court’s location is not stated.
- Why
- The plaintiffs argued that the ads were overtly political and funded by taxpayers. The judge found they were likely to succeed in their case and that an injunction served the public interest.
The plaintiffs’ coalition
The Trump administration
Use of taxpayer funds
The plaintiffs’ coalition
The ads were overtly political and taxpayer-funded.
The Trump administration
The administration described the ads as public service announcements, in line with past presidents.
Purpose of the ads
The plaintiffs’ coalition
The ads were political propaganda intended to influence electoral outcomes and further the president’s agenda.
The Trump administration
The administration characterized the ads as public service announcements.
the plaintiffs “have demonstrated that they are likely to succeed on the merits, will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction, the balance of the equities tips in their favor, and an injunction serves the public interest,
We are pleased the court acted swiftly to prevent more taxpayer dollars from being used for such blatantly unlawful political propaganda.
There is no legal justification — and no precedent — for the president to use the machinery of the government and funds set aside by Congress for other uses to influence electoral outcomes that further his own agenda.
Trump announced that his political action committee, MAGA Inc., would start funding the advertising campaign.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a court filing that the ads would not continue past Sunday.
Judge Jennifer L. Rochon issued a temporary restraining order halting the taxpayer-funded ads for at least 14 days.
- Judge
- Jennifer L. Rochon
- Minimum halt
- 14 days
- Ad-time purchase
- $20 million
- Federal department funds at issue
- Department of Homeland Security
- Plaintiffs
- Common Cause, Robert Hunter, Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ and Empire State 32BJ SEIU PAC
Sources
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