Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Halt Taxpayer-Funded Ads

A federal judge on Sunday evening ordered the Trump administration to stop airing its controversial taxpayer-funded television ads, granting a temporary restraining order sought by the nonprofit watchdog Common Cause.

Judge Jennifer Rochon of the U.S. District Court in New York ordered the government to cancel any further airings of the ads as of 6:45 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Justice Department had told Rochon late Saturday that the ad push was scheduled to end Sunday night anyway, but the judge said that timing did not render the lawsuit moot.

The ruling blocks any further ad buys for two weeks. If the administration wants to resume the campaign at taxpayer expense, Justice Department lawyers would first need to get the court order lifted.

$19 million already spent

The government has already spent $19 million in taxpayer money on the campaign, according to a filing in the case. The White House Office of Management and Budget had allocated $20 million from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for what it classified as “public service announcements.”

According to a sworn declaration from senior Department of Homeland Security official Holly Mehringer, the advertising firm LMD Agency Inc. “purchased media buys under the terms of the Order through Sunday, October 11, 2026, at an approximate cost of $19,000,000.” Mehringer said the department directed the firm to make no additional buys past October 11 and that there are “no plans” for more.

Earlier Sunday, officials said the $19 million ad campaign would end on Sunday, but the judge’s order puts a court-enforceable stop to any further airings.

A disputed campaign

The administration created at least 13 campaign-style ads, which aired on networks including CBS, CNN, MS NOW, Fox News and Fox, according to CNN. Watchdog groups, including the nonprofit, nonpartisan Common Cause, have argued the ads violate appropriations law restricting the use of federal funding for propaganda or partisan communications. Common Cause and the Democratic National Committee separately sued the Trump administration over the ads.

The dispute began late last month when the ad campaign launched, drawing concern from lawmakers of both parties. On Oct. 5, Trump said he had decided to pay for the “Patriotic Ads” himself and with money raised for his super PAC, MAGA Inc. But six days later, the taxpayer-funded ads were still airing.

In response to the lawsuit, the Justice Department said the effort to halt the spending should be denied because the ads “will not continue past tomorrow.” The White House has said Trump does not plan to reimburse the government for the money already spent.

Reporting based on coverage by CNN and Reuters.