Trump’s taxpayer-funded propaganda ads violate multiple federal laws

The Trump administration’s reported use of Department of Homeland Security funds to finance a set of pro-Trump propaganda advertisements likely violated multiple federal laws, including appropriations laws, according to a complaint CREW filed with the DHS Office of Inspector General. The IG must investigate whether taxpayer money appropriated for DHS operations illegally funded partisan propaganda and hold any parties involved in misusing those funds accountable. 

The advertisements, which started airing on September 23, have included a Trump campaign refrain about defeating communism in America, plugs for Trump administration priorities and, in one instance, images of the president over a choir singing the lyrics “love me.” They conclude with text saying “paid for by the U.S. government.” In response to questions about financing for the advertisements, the White House claimed they were “public service announcements” that were “clearly not political.” Subsequent reporting revealed that the money that paid for the ads came from Customs and Border Protection within DHS, with estimates ranging from $1.4 million to $20 million. The ads have already aired more than 2,000 times on local and cable television networks. 

Federal law clearly prohibits the use of federal funds for partisan political messaging and propaganda. The Antideficiency Act prohibits agencies from obligating or expending federal funds in excess of those appropriated by Congress and requires agencies to report any infractions. The Purpose Statute states that “an agency’s authority to use its appropriations to communicate with the public about any administration priority must be firmly rooted in the language of the appropriation or the agency’s enabling or authorizing legislation.” Finally, a government-wide provision of federal appropriations law, most recently appearing in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026,” provides that “[n]o part of any appropriation contained in this or any other Act shall be used directly or indirectly, including by private contractor, for publicity or propaganda purposes.” 

The partisan messaging and propaganda in these ads is unmistakable, especially considering that the content of at least one ad appears nearly identical to a video Trump promoted on social media during his 2024 campaign and has been repackaged in the current lead-up to the midterm elections. While CBP routinely runs television and radio advertisements, these advertisements cover content well beyond the agency’s focus on immigration. DHS already likely misused appropriated funds this year for a separate ad campaign that promoted then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, at a cost of more than $200 million. 

Since these ads began airing, there has been public outcry from both sides of the aisle—including from members of Congress. As the president rescinds the use of federal funds for key government programs that support economic opportunity for Americans, he is reportedly planning to expand his misuse of federal funds for partisan propaganda. The US Treasury is funded by hardworking Americans’ tax dollars and its appropriations must be used for government programs that will improve the lives of those Americans, rather than being spent to promote a political agenda that favors those already in power. To assure the public that their government is spending tax dollars in accordance with the law, the IG must investigate and take any necessary disciplinary actions.