US judge orders halt to taxpayer-funded ads featuring Trump - Reuters

A Manhattan federal judge issued a temporary restraining order halting the Trump administration’s use of taxpayer money for television advertisements that promoted the president’s political message. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon ruled that the ads, funded through a $20 million allocation from the Department of Homeland Security, violated a federal statute that bars congressionally appropriated funds from being used for “publicity or propaganda.” The order bars the administration from entering into, renewing, or expanding any agreement related to the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements for a two‑week period.

The injunction was granted after a coalition of plaintiffs, including the nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause, sued the administration, arguing that the ads were political propaganda intended to benefit Republican candidates in the November 3 midterm elections rather than public service announcements. Plaintiffs contended that the ads, which began airing in late September, constituted an illegal misuse of public funds. In response, the Justice Department filed a brief asserting that the temporary restraining order was unnecessary because the alleged offending conduct would cease the following day.

Judge Rochon specifically ordered the cancellation of any remaining ads, including those scheduled to air on the night of the ruling. She directed that no new agreements be made for the advertisements during the order’s duration. The administration had indicated in a filing on October 10 that it was already planning to stop the campaign, a claim that aligns with the judge’s finding that the ads would soon end.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the order. President Donald Trump later described the advertisements as a “positive promotion for our great USA” but said they would no longer be funded by taxpayers. The administration subsequently announced that the president’s political action committee, MAGA PAC, would assume financing for any future ads.

Common Cause president and chief executive Virginia Kase Solomon praised the decision, stating that the organization will continue to hold the administration accountable and prevent any president from using taxpayer funds for propaganda. Legal experts noted that the case underscores the statutory prohibition on using appropriated money for partisan messaging and may have broader implications for how federal agencies fund communications.

The ruling caps several days of bipartisan criticism of the taxpayer‑funded advertisements, which had drawn scrutiny for their timing in the final weeks before the midterm elections and for the perception that they blurred the line between government information and political campaigning.