Key Points
- Judge Jennifer L. Rochon issued a temporary restraining order on Sunday.
- The Department of Homeland Security allocated $20 million in taxpayer funds for the advertising campaign.
- President Donald Trump has said his political fundraising operation would pay for future advertisements.
ISLAMABAD: A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to cancel remaining television advertisements promoting the president, ruling that a legal challenge to the use of public funds should proceed.
The order covers advertisements scheduled to air on Sunday and bars the administration from entering into, renewing or expanding agreements for the commercials during the next two weeks.
US District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon in New York issued the order on Sunday, October 11, siding with a coalition led by the nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause, which challenged the advertisements as an unlawful use of public money.
After the ruling, the administration maintained that the advertising campaign was already scheduled to end on Sunday night.
The Justice Department had argued that a court order was unnecessary because the disputed broadcasts would not continue beyond that date.
However, the judge ordered officials to cancel any remaining advertising arrangements, with the restriction taking effect at 6:45 pm the US Eastern Time on Sunday.
The case centres on whether the administration could use the Congress-approved funds for government activities to finance advertisements promoting Trump’s political message ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocated $20 million for the campaign, which began airing in late September.
The advertisement featured Trump discussing his policies, warning against communism and highlighting his administration’s actions.
One advertisement reused material from Trump’s previous presidential campaign, while another promoted the administration’s capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to reports by US media.
The administration has defended the commercials as public service announcements intended to highlight government policies and achievements.
Officials have argued that previous administrations also used publicly funded advertising to promote their programmes.
Critics, however, contend that the advertisements went beyond informing the public and instead promoted the president and his political agenda.
The legal challenge argues that using congressional appropriations for such advertising could violate federal restrictions on ‘the use of public money for publicity or propaganda’.
The court’s temporary restraining order does not make a final ruling on whether the spending violated federal law. The underlying case will continue.
Alternative funding
Trump defended the advertisements in a social media post on October 5, describing them as a positive promotion for the United States.
Following criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups, he said he would pay for them through political fundraising.
The White House has indicated Trump’s political action committee would finance future advertisements. Officials have not announced plans to reimburse the government for money already spent.
A court filing by a senior DHS official said the government had awarded advertising agency LMD Agency a $20 million contract for a national media campaign beginning on September 20.
The filing said the money came from congressional appropriations available for activities including commemorating border security efforts and events.
Democrats and some Republicans have criticised the campaign, questioning whether taxpayer funds should be used for advertisements featuring the president.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, said the advertisements should not be paid for with taxpayer money. Other lawmakers have called for investigations into the funding arrangements.
Common Cause and the other plaintiffs welcomed the judge’s intervention, arguing that public funds should not be used to advance a president’s political agenda.
The Democratic National Committee has also filed a separate lawsuit challenging the advertising campaign in federal court in Washington.
The latest order temporarily prevents further government-funded broadcasts while the legal dispute proceeds.
