COURT RULINGA federal judge in New York has ordered the Trump administration to halt taxpayer-funded ads that promote President Donald Trump, bringing a contested campaign to a stop weeks before the November midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued the order on Sunday evening, Oct. 11, 2026, and NBC News reported that it took effect immediately.
Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a temporary restraining order requiring the administration to cancel all remaining airings of taxpayer-funded ads promoting the president. The order lasts 14 days unless extended and blocks the use of Department of Homeland Security funds for the ads. It is not a final ruling on whether the ads were lawful.
What the Judge Ordered on Taxpayer-Funded Ads
Rochon directed the administration to “cancel or cause to be cancelled” any ads from airing or being spread in other ways, including spots that were scheduled for Sunday night, according to NBC News. She also barred the administration from using money appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create, place, or air the challenged advertisements.
CNBC reported that the order is a temporary restraining order. It lasts 14 days unless the court extends it, and it stops DHS from spending any more of the $20 million set aside for the campaign. A temporary restraining order is a short-term measure that keeps the situation in place while a court considers a case further.
News outlets have used slightly different labels for the order. NBC described it as an order to stop the ads immediately, while CNBC and CNN identified it as a temporary restraining order. The court has not yet decided the broader legal questions in the case.
Who Brought the Lawsuit
The case was filed by the watchdog group Common Cause, Robert Hunter, who is a Democratic candidate for the Alabama state House, and a New York labor union with its political action committee. Deadline identified the union as SEIU Local 32BJ.
NBC News reported that this was one of several similar complaints. The Democratic National Committee filed its own separate lawsuit over the same taxpayer-funded ads.
Watchdog groups argued that the ads violate appropriations law, which limits how federal money can be used for propaganda or partisan messages, as CNN reported. The administration has not accepted that description. The White House has defended the spots as public service announcements.
The Administration’s Position Before the Ruling
In a court filing on Saturday, the administration said DHS had placed ad buys through Sunday by way of a vendor, and had told that vendor not to purchase ads beyond that day. The Justice Department argued that the request to stop the spending should be denied because the taxpayer-funded ads would not run past Sunday.
Rochon did not accept that argument. She found that the plaintiffs’ request was not moot, meaning it still mattered even though the government said the campaign was ending. Her order covered ads set to air later on Sunday night.
The White House, DHS, and the Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to NBC News requests for comment on the ruling. MAGA Inc., the super PAC, also did not respond right away.
Spending, Ad Content, and Funding Questions
According to CNN, the government told the court it had already spent $19 million of the $20 million. CNN also reported that the White House budget office allocated the money last month from Customs and Border Protection, a DHS component, for what it labeled “OBBBA commemorative events.” That label refers to the sweeping tax and spending law Trump signed in 2025.
CNN counted at least 13 campaign-style ads. Some aired on networks including CBS, CNN, MS NOW, and Fox News. NBC News noted that one of the ads was nearly identical to a 2024 Trump campaign ad, which drew criticism.
Trump said last week that MAGA Inc. would help pay for the ads going forward. Deadline reported that he did not say whether the government would be reimbursed for the costs already incurred.
Reaction From Plaintiffs and Lawmakers
The plaintiffs said in a joint statement that they were pleased the court acted quickly to prevent more taxpayer dollars from going toward what they called unlawful political propaganda. They also said they know of no legal basis or precedent for a president to use government resources and congressionally set-aside funds to influence elections.
Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause, said the group’s fight continues. She said the organization wants the administration held accountable and wants to ensure no president can use public money this way.
Criticism of the taxpayer-funded ads has not come only from Democrats. Agence France-Presse reported that Sen. John Hickenlooper called the ads illegal, while some senior Republicans expressed reservations. NBC News later reported that Trump said taxpayer dollars would no longer be used for the ads after the bipartisan criticism.
What Happens Next
The restraining order runs for 14 days unless extended. CNN reported that if the administration wanted to resume taxpayer-funded ads during that period, Justice Department lawyers would first need to get the order lifted.
The underlying lawsuits remain pending. The court has yet to decide whether the ads broke federal spending rules, and the administration has not publicly responded to the ruling in the reporting reviewed for this article. This story may develop as the case moves forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ad Order
What did the judge order?
Judge Jennifer Rochon ordered the administration to cancel any remaining airings of the challenged ads, including those set for Sunday night, and barred the use of DHS-appropriated funds for them.
How long does the order last?
It is a temporary restraining order that lasts 14 days unless the court extends it.
Who sued over the taxpayer-funded ads?
Common Cause, Alabama House candidate Robert Hunter, and a New York labor union and its political action committee brought this case. The Democratic National Committee filed a separate suit.
How much taxpayer money was involved?
The administration allocated $20 million, and a government filing said about $19 million had already been spent, according to CNN.
Who will pay for any future ads?
Trump said last week that MAGA Inc. would help fund the ads going forward. He did not say whether the government would be repaid for earlier spending.
