The Trump administration is using taxpayer-financed funds meant for the Department of Homeland Security to air campaign ads.
Posted by The Lawfare Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 7 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 85%
The Lawfare PodcastOct 8, 2026
As of the October 8, 2026 post date, multiple sources published September 29–30 report that DHS (via a CBP account) moved about $20 million in taxpayer funds, originally from the One Big Beautiful Bill, to pay for pro-Trump TV ads that aired.
A guest makes this claim. Listeners heard it, so it counts against the post, and on the guest's own record.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… Like, if you look at these campaign ads that have been airing well, I'm calling them campaign ads because they're essentially Trump campaign ads, you know, with, like, the love me, love me, love me in the background and they're taxpayer finance. They're coming from money that, I think, was meant for DHS, but they're being used on these ads. Or when you look at the construction projects in the ballroom, was initially he said, won't come at taxpayer expense, but it is coming at taxpayer expense, at least in part. …
The Lawfare Podcast · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. AP reports that DHS tapped $20 million in taxpayer funds to pay for campaign-style ads glorifying Trump, with the money drawn from the One Big Beautiful Bill and meant for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.[1]
Supports. A primary Senate press release from Sens. Murphy and Murray says DHS appears to have committed $20 million for the ad spend, and AdImpact estimates at least $1.7 million was already spent airing the ads.[2]
Supports. Politico, citing congressional Democrats, reports the administration appears to have used $20 million in DHS funds for television ads promoting Trump ahead of the midterms.[3]
Supports. Reporting from ABC, CNBC (citing WSJ), USA Today and Post and Courier, drawing on government contract and budget records, says the CBP-linked funds paid for the ads, including a $20 million contract awarded to LMD Agency.[4][5][6][7]
Context. Some reports hedge with 'appears' or 'according to sources,' and the October 28 ruling found the spending likely violated federal law, a later development that does not alter the claim as of October 8.[4][8]
Sources
8 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 primary, 1 tier 2, 5 not rated
- 1Homeland Security taps $20M in taxpayer funds for pro- ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2[2026-09-29] Murphy, Murray Press Trump Administration On...murphy.senate.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
- 3Trump administration used DHS funds for pro-Trump ads, ...politico.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 4Pro-Trump ad campaign was financed by DHS: Sourcesabc7news.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 5Trump ads funded by Homeland Security, $20 million in ... - CNBCcnbc.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6Trump uses $20 million in DHS funds to make ads promoting selfpostandcourier.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 7Trump using Homeland Security funds to finance TV ads before ...usatoday.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 8Judge bars Trump admin from using taxpayer funds for 'partisan ...yahoo.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- The federal government has begun airing pro-Trump television ads paid for by US taxpayers.True
- Donald Trump previously used taxpayer funds to pay for advertisements.True
- Donald Trump fired former DHS Secretary Christine Om for spending over $220 million in taxpayer money on an ad campaign.True
- The Trump administration has sent the Department of Homeland Security to look for election fraud.True
- Donald Trump stated he is paying for patriotic ads himself and with money raised from MAGA Inc.True