# Trump Uses Taxpayer Funds for Midterm Ads

> Trump's campaign ads funded by taxpayer dollars violate federal law but face little resistance.
- Title: Trump Uses Taxpayer Funds for Midterm Ads · Slate Magazine
- Summary: Trump's campaign ads funded by taxpayer dollars violate federal law but face little resistance. Trump's midterm ads paid for with taxpayer dollars breach…
- Keywords: trump, midterm elections, taxpayer dollars, antideficiency act, hatch act, federal law, white house, campaign ads, congress, homeland security, dhs, public citizen
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/10/can-trump-campaign-ads-taxpayer-dollars-2026-cheating.html?via=rss
- Author: Shirin Ali
- Published: 2026-10-01T09:40:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: trump, midterm elections, taxpayer dollars, antideficiency act, hatch act, federal law, white house, campaign ads, congress, homeland security, dhs, public citizen
## Trump's Midterm Ads
Trump's campaign ads aired across TV networks this week warn against communism while using taxpayer dollars.

> America will never be a communist country
## Taxpayer Funding Violation
The ads were paid for with taxpayer dollars from Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection budget.
## Legal Violations
The ads violate the Antideficiency Act and Hatch Act by promoting Trump as a leader without government program information.
## Congressional Response
Congress could cut DHS's budget or demand it return the money spent on the ads.
## Public Citizen Action
Public Citizen filed complaints with the FCC and FTC to stop the ads but faces resistance from Trump appointees.
## Legal Challenges
White House employees could face Hatch Act violations but the DOJ is unlikely to investigate Trump's ads.
## Funding Details
The ads aired 90 times nationally and 2,000 times locally costing $337,000 and $1.4 million respectively.
## Historical Context
Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was fired after spending $220 million on a horse ad campaign.
## Legal Expert Opinion
Columbia Law Professor Richard Briffault says the ads violate appropriations riders against propaganda.
## No Legal Recourse
Average Americans cannot sue the government for using taxpayer dollars for political ads.
## Next Steps
Congress must act to enforce laws against Trump's ads before they become a legal precedent.
## White House Defense
The White House calls the ads public service announcements to remind Americans to love their country.
## Key takeaway

Trump's midterm ads paid for with taxpayer dollars breach federal law but lack clear legal recourse.