US judge blocks Trump's $20 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign
A US federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from using $20 million in taxpayer funds for a television ad campaign. The court ruled in favor of a watchdog group that argued the ads were an illegal misuse of public funds for political messaging.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights legal constraints on the executive branch's use of public funds for activities that resemble political campaigning.
A US court on Sunday ordered the Donald Trump administration to cancel television commercials funded with millions of dollars in taxpayer money to promote the president's political message.US district judge Jennifer L Rochon in New York issued a temporary restraining order directing the administration to cancel any remaining ads, including those scheduled to air on Sunday night."Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements" during the two-week period covered by the order, the judge said.The order came after nonpartisan watchdog Common Cause challenged the ads, calling them an illegal misuse of taxpayer funds.In a court filing late Saturday, the justice department argued that a temporary restraining order…
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