Judge orders ads stopped immediately

Judge Jennifer Rochon in Manhattan federal court ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop airing government-funded television ads on Sunday night.

Twenty million dollar budget frozen

The temporary restraining order bars the Department of Homeland Security from spending any more of the twenty million dollars allocated for the ad campaign. About nineteen million had already been spent.

Critics call ads political propaganda

Democrats criticized the ads as designed to help Trump's fellow Republicans in the November midterm election, which will determine which political party controls both chambers of Congress.

One ad touted Trump accomplishments

The coalition described an ad titled The Country He Loves as featuring rapid cuts of photos and videos of President Trump mixed with text touting accomplishments including Largest Tax Cuts in History and Reigniting American…

Senator warned of propaganda violation

Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., wrote White House chief of staff Susie Wiles on September twenty-fourth saying the advertisement appears to violate federal prohibitions against using appropriated funds as part of a general propaganda effort designed…

“The advertisement does not have a clear official government purpose and appears to run afoul of federal prohibitions against the use of appropriated funds as part of 'a general propaganda effort designed to aid a political party or candidates.'”

Trump pledged to pay going forward

On October fifth, Trump said he or his super PAC, MAGA Inc., would pay for the ads going forward. The White House said the president would not reimburse the federal government for ads already aired.

Coalition sued to block the ads

The coalition filing the lawsuit on October seventh includes the advocacy group Common Cause and the Service Employees International Union Local thirty-two BJ, headquartered in New York City.

Judge rejected government arguments

Judge Rochon rejected the Justice Department's argument that the coalition lacked legal standing to challenge the ads. She said the coalition showed it was likely to win and that an injunction serves the public interest.

Order blocks new ad agreements

The judge ordered the Trump administration not to enter into any new agreement or expand existing ones for the ads.She also stayed a purchase order between U.S.Customs and Border Protection and contractor Lepugh Inc.

Restraining order lasts fourteen days

The temporary restraining order lasts fourteen days unless extended. Judge Rochon said she would soon issue a full opinion explaining her ruling on the government-funded ads.