Judge Orders Trump Administration to Halt $20 Million Ads Immediately

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop airing a $20 million government-funded advertising campaign after finding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed and could suffer irreparable harm ahead of the U.S. midterm election.

Judge Jennifer Rochon issued the order Sunday night in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The advertisements were funded through a Department of Homeland Security contract and had drawn criticism as government propaganda intended to influence the contest for control of Congress.

The plaintiffs include Common Cause and Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, a New York-based labor group. Rochon found that the case could proceed and that the plaintiffs had shown a likelihood of success, irreparable harm without an injunction, and a public interest in stopping the ads.

The coalition welcomed the decision, saying it would prevent additional taxpayer money from being used for what it called unlawful political propaganda. The court’s order immediately stops the challenged advertisements while the case continues.