A federal judge on Sunday ordered the Trump administration to immediately cease airing taxpayer-funded television advertisements that critics have labeled political propaganda. The ruling follows lawsuits from a coalition of advocacy groups, including Common Cause, which challenged the administration’s use of $20 million in government funds to promote the president’s agenda.
Judge Jennifer Rochon’s Injunction Against the Administration
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon of the Southern District of New York issued the order Sunday night, effectively halting the government-funded media campaign. The decision mandates that the administration cancel or cause to be cancelled
any remaining slots or arrangements for the ads, including those scheduled for Sunday evening, according to the order. The injunction applies to a two-week period, during which the government is prohibited from entering into, renewing, or expanding any agreements for the development, dissemination, or airing of the challenged advertisements.
In her decision, Judge Rochon noted that the plaintiffs had successfully established the necessity of an injunction. She wrote that the moving parties 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.
The lawsuit names the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as defendants.
Legal Challenges and the $20 Million DHS Contract
The lawsuit is one of several legal actions filed against the administration, including a separate complaint by the Democratic National Committee.
Senior DHS official Holly C. Mehringer stated in a court declaration that the funds only funded the airing of preexisting media.
While the government argued in a filing late Saturday that the ads were already set to end, Judge Rochon rejected the assertion that the motion was moot, ordering the halt at 6:45 p.m. ET on Sunday.
White House Defends Political Ads Amidst Criticism
The ads, which began airing in late September, featured themes such as border security, the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and anti-communism. One spot was a rehash of a 2024 campaign ad featuring the 80-year-old president, while another included a clip of Trump speaking at a Columbus Day celebration on October 9, 2026. The White House has defended the ads as public service announcements similar to those used by past administrations, despite critics noting they do not help the public benefit from specific government programs and lack an overt call to action.
Amidst the growing legal and public pressure, Trump took to Truth Social to state he would pay for advertisements himself using money raised for his super PAC, MAGA, Inc. He insisted that this was a standard practice, though he acknowledged that nothing will make them happy.
However, a White House spokesperson confirmed that there are no plans to reimburse the government for the millions already spent on the initial media buys. The Justice Department conceded that while the ads attacked a generic list of “villains,” they did not address any specific race, electoral candidate, or party.
“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.”
Coalition statement via Democracy Forward
The use of public funds drew condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Next Steps in the Case
The court has scheduled a hearing for October 13 to discuss the next steps in the legal proceedings. While the immediate airings have been blocked, Common Cause President and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón emphasized that the broader legal fight continues. We won’t stop until this administration is held fully accountable, and no president from any party can waste and abuse taxpayer funds for propaganda ever again,
she said.
