Well, somebody finally took the government credit card away. On October 11, U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using Department of Homeland Security funds for a TV-ad campaign featuring President Trump ahead of the November midterms. The court found the plaintiffs likely to succeed, ordered the underlying CBP ad-buy contract and the Office of Management and Budget’s $20 million apportionment stayed, and barred further funding, production, placement, or airing of the ads. Read the court order.
Rochon also ordered the administration to cancel any remaining placements, including ads set for the evening of October 11, and required a compliance report within 24 hours. The order took effect at 6:45 p.m. and lasts 14 days unless extended. So, in legal terms: no more taxpayer-funded campaign-flavored programming, at least for now. In Boston bar terms: the tab got cut off before the guy could order another round of Michelobs on everybody else’s dime. Read the court order.
The Associated Press reported that DHS had tapped $20 million for the ads; the administration said they were public-service announcements, while the plaintiffs argued they were unlawful political propaganda. The court has not issued its full merits opinion yet, but its emergency ruling says the challengers cleared the high bar for immediate relief. That is not a final verdict; it is, however, a fairly loud judicial throat-clear. Read AP’s reporting.
Sources
- https://campaignlegal.org/sites/default/files/2026-10/26-cv-08882_common_cause_order__tro__2026.10.11.pdf
- https://apnews.com/article/trump-tv-ads-f845554063cea0b4b41275d32abd3633
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