# Judge halts Trump ads funded by taxpayers

> A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop airing government-funded ads portraying the president favorably, ruling the plaintiffs likely to succeed on the merits.
- Title: Judge halts Trump ads funded by taxpayers · NBC News
- Summary: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop airing government-funded ads portraying the president favorably, ruling the plaintiffs…
- Keywords: trump administration, federal court, government spending, political advertising, common cause, department of homeland security, politics, news, Judge, halts, Trump, ads
- Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/federal-judge-orders-trump-tv-ads-funded-taxpayers-air-immediately-rcna602879
- Author: Gary Grumbach
- Published: 2026-10-12T00:48:43.238+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: trump administration, federal court, government spending, political advertising, common cause, department of homeland security, politics, news
## Judge orders ads off air immediately
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon of the Southern District of New York ordered the Trump administration on Sunday to stop airing government-funded ads portraying President Donald Trump favorably, effective immediately.
## Who brought the lawsuit
The watchdog group Common Cause, Democratic candidate Robert Hunter running for Alabama state House, and a New York labor union with its political action committee filed the suit to get the ads off air.
## Judge's legal reasoning
Judge Rochon wrote that plaintiffs demonstrated they are likely to succeed on the merits, will suffer irreparable harm without an injunction, the balance of equities tips in their favor, and an injunction serves the public…

> Plaintiffs have demonstrated that they are likely to succeed on the merits, will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction, the balance of the equities tips in their favor, and an injunction serves the public interest.
## Administration's failed argument
The Trump administration had told the court Saturday that the Department of Homeland Security placed ad buys through Sunday and instructed the vendor not to purchase ads beyond that day.Judge Rochon rejected this as moot.
## Scope of the injunction
Judge Rochon ordered the Trump administration to cancel any ads from airing or being disseminated, including those set to air Sunday night, and barred using DHS funds to develop, create, disseminate, place, distribute, publish or…
## No immediate response from administration
The White House, Department of Homeland Security and Office of Management and Budget, all named as defendants, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. MAGA Inc. also did not immediately respond.
## Plaintiffs celebrate ruling
Common Cause President and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón said the fight continues and the group will not stop until the administration is held fully accountable and no president can waste taxpayer funds for propaganda.

> We won't stop until this administration is held fully accountable, and no president from any party can waste and abuse taxpayer funds for propaganda ever again.
## Ads resembled campaign material
The ads came under scrutiny because one was nearly identical to a two thousand twenty-four Trump campaign ad. Critics argued that using taxpayer money for such spots could be illegal and called them propaganda.
## Key takeaway

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to stop airing government-funded ads portraying President Trump favorably, finding the plaintiffs likely to succeed in their legal challenge.