Judge orders Trump administration to end taxpayer-funded TV ads

On October 12, 2026, a U.S. District Judge in New York ordered the Trump administration to halt all taxpayer-funded TV ads promoting President Donald Trump and his agenda immediately after plaintiffs, including Common Cause, argued these ads illegally used public funds for political purposes. Despite this order, the ads continued to run hundreds of times on national television until October 13, prompting a rare apology from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to Judge Jennifer Rochon and the watchdog groups involved.

The DOJ's lawyer apologized in court filings, explaining that delays due to the federal holiday caused some employees not to see the emergency order promptly, leading to the continued airing of approximately 400 spots. The initial legal challenge was filed on October 12 by Common Cause, Alabama state house candidate Robert Hunter, and others who argued that these ads were an illegal misuse of funds allocated for other purposes.

The $20 million TV ad campaign had been funded through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and involved ads such as "Final Battle," which ran in nearly 400 spots after Judge Rochon's order to cease them. These ads featured moments from Trump’s second term, declaring “America will never be a communist country.” Despite the court's ruling, these ads continued to air until further action was taken by the DOJ and DHS to enforce compliance with the judge’s orders. The plaintiffs expressed satisfaction that the court acted swiftly to prevent misuse of taxpayer funds for political propaganda.