NEW YORK — A federal judge ordered the Trump administration Sunday evening to cancel remaining taxpayer-funded television advertisements featuring the president, including placements scheduled for that night.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon made the temporary order effective at 6:45 p.m. Eastern. It lasts 14 days unless extended, according to the federal court order.
The ruling freezes a $20 million funding allocation and future payments under the advertising purchase order. It also bars the government from spending Department of Homeland Security funds on the challenged advertisements.
The advertising contractor must stop running or placing the ads. Government officials must submit a report confirming compliance within 24 hours.
Common Cause, Alabama legislative candidate Robert Hunter and union plaintiffs challenged the campaign. Their lawyers contend the spending exceeded congressional authorization and violated restrictions on government-funded publicity and propaganda, according to Campaign Legal Center.
The administration had argued that emergency relief was unnecessary because the advertising campaign was ending, The Associated Press reported. In a Saturday court filing, the Justice Department said the disputed conduct would end Sunday.
The White House has defended the ads as public service announcements comparable to advertising by previous administrations, according to AP.
Rochon found that the challengers were likely to succeed on the merits and would suffer irreparable harm without an injunction. A full opinion will follow, the order states.
The judge canceled the previously scheduled Oct. 13 conference and said she would reschedule it to discuss the next steps.
