Trump Admin Ordered to Halt Taxpayer-Funded Ads Featuring Trump Ahead of Midterms

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to stop taxpayer-funded political ads featuring President Donald Trump ahead of the November midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a 14-day temporary restraining order Sunday night in Manhattan federal court, blocking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from spending additional campaign funds on an advertising campaign financed through congressional immigration-enforcement appropriations. The ads were labeled “Paid for by the U.S. Government,” and critics argued they could aid Republicans. The order follows a lawsuit filed Oct. 7 by Common Cause and Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, with a separate challenge filed the same day by the Democratic National Committee. DHS said it would end the pro-Trump taxpayer ads after Sunday.