A federal judge on Sunday ordered the Trump administration to halt its government-funded advertising campaign featuring President Trump, ruling the ads are likely unlawful and must be pulled immediately, including spots scheduled for later that evening.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon, an appointee of former President Biden in New York, issued a four-page order that blocks any further disbursement of funds and requires the cancellation of remaining ad reservations, including those set for the evening of October 11. The ruling took effect at 6:45 p.m. EDT and lasts for two weeks.
The judge rejected the administration's argument that the case was moot because the campaign was scheduled to end Sunday. She found that the plaintiffs—a coalition of unions, Common Cause, and an Alabama state house candidate—were likely to succeed on the merits of their challenge.
The ad campaign, which has cost nearly $20 million, was funded through money earmarked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. One ad features images and clips of Trump overlaid with quotes from recent speeches, including attacks on communism and claims of the largest tax cuts in history.
The plaintiffs argued that the administration unlawfully repurposed funds Congress had appropriated for other purposes, and that the ads amount to improper use of taxpayer money for political propaganda. In a statement, they said: “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.”
The Trump administration had told the judge that the challengers lacked standing, that the suit was improperly filed in New York, and that they would not suffer irreparable harm since the campaign was ending. However, the government's filing did not focus on defending the ads' legality.
This is the first time a judge has blocked the ads, which face multiple lawsuits. The Democratic National Committee and its Wisconsin affiliate have also filed separate challenges. The Department of Homeland Security has been contacted for comment, but a spokesperson had not responded at press time.
In a Saturday letter to the court, Holly Mehringer, performing the duties of DHS's CFO, said the department had directed the vendor to make no additional media buys past October 11 and expected a final invoice.
The ruling comes as the administration faces scrutiny over other spending decisions, including bipartisan anger over a Russian diesel deal and tightening races in key states.
