Court Grants Temporary Restraining Order Blocking Taxpayer-Funded Trump Political Ads

NEW YORK – Today, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump-Vance administration, including the Department of Homeland Security, from using taxpayer funds to create and air partisan political ads for 14 days.

This order comes after a coalition consisting of a good-government group, a property service workers union and PAC, and a candidate for State House in Alabama filed a legal challenge, arguing that such ads — which had been airing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — are unlawful and exceed statutory authority.

This coalition includes government watchdog group Common Cause, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 32BJ and its Empire State PAC, and candidate for Alabama State House Robert Hunter, and is represented by Democracy Forward, Campaign Legal Center Action and Public Integrity Project Action, Inc., in the matter. 

In response to the ruling, the coalition issued the following statement:

“We are pleased the court acted swiftly to prevent more taxpayer dollars from being used for such blatantly unlawful political propaganda. There is no legal justification — and no precedent — for the president to use the machinery of the government and funds set aside by Congress for other uses to influence electoral outcomes that further his own agenda.

“As this case moves forward and voters make their voices heard in this election, we will work to ensure the rule of law continues to be upheld, protecting the rights of voters and our democracy.”

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