A federal judge in New York ordered the Trump administration Sunday night to halt the broadcast of promotional television commercials financed with taxpayer money, rejecting arguments from government lawyers that the emergency legal intervention was unnecessary.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon of the Southern District of New York approved a temporary restraining order sought by a coalition of legal and voting-rights organizations. The ruling directs federal officials to cancel any scheduled broadcasts immediately, covering programs that were set to air Sunday evening.
Under the terms of the two-week order, Rochon barred the administration from expanding, renewing or creating agreements to air or circulate the spots. The judge also froze an ad-buying purchase order between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and vendor LMD Agency Inc., finding that the plaintiffs established a likelihood of winning their challenge and that an injunction served the public interest.
Dispute Over Emergency Injunction
The Justice Department had maintained in a Saturday court filing that Rochon should not issue an order because the ad campaign was already slated to finish Sunday. However, the judge determined the issue was not moot and concluded the challenge possessed legal merit.
The Department of Homeland Security allocated $20 million for the ad campaign, with approximately $19 million already expended through Sunday, senior DHS official Holly Mehringer stated in a sworn court declaration, according to CNN. Mehringer described the allocation as derived from congressional appropriations intended for border security commemoration events.
Democracy Forward, the nonprofit legal team representing the plaintiffs, applauded the decision in a joint statement. The group contended there is no legal precedent allowing a president to employ government machinery and public funds to influence elections and advance personal political goals, ABC News reported.
Watchdog organization Common Cause, New York labor union SEIU Local 32BJ and Alabama state House candidate Robert Hunter brought the civil suit on Oct. 7. The Democratic National Committee submitted a separate lawsuit targeting the broadcasts that same day.
Growing Political Pushback
The advertisements, which began broadcasting in late September across national networks, highlighted President Donald Trump’s policies and drew criticism for closely resembling reelection campaign spots. One video highlighted the administration’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, while another flashed slogans warning against communism alongside lists of Trump’s accomplishments, CNBC reported.
Critics argued the broadcasts violated longstanding federal statutory bans prohibiting appropriated public funds from being used for domestic propaganda. The effort drew rebukes from Democrats as well as congressional Republicans.
“It shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters, according to ABC News.
On Oct. 5, Trump announced that he and his political action committee, MAGA Inc., would take over funding for future broadcasts. Even so, the taxpayer-funded versions remained on the air through the weekend.
Appearing Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the promotional spots as legitimate public service announcements highlighting border security achievements and dropping overdose deaths, according to CNN. Mullin welcomed the chance to promote national accomplishments on television.
White House officials have indicated they have no plans to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for the tens of millions of dollars already distributed to media outlets. Rochon indicated that a complete written opinion explaining her legal reasoning will follow soon, while the temporary block remains active for 14 days.
