Judge temporarily halts government-funded Trump midterm ad campaign

• A federal judge in New York on Sunday night ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop airing government-funded ads aimed at influencing the midterm election.
• The temporary restraining order by Judge Jennifer Rochon also bars the Department of Homeland Security from spending any more of the $20M set aside for the TV ad campaign.
• The order came a day after the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is defending the Trump administration in a lawsuit challenging the ads, told Rochon that the ads would not continue being aired past Sunday.
• Rochon’s order, which lasts 14 days unless extended, directs the Trump administration to cancel all scheduled ads, including those due to air on Sunday evening. The ads have included the caption “Paid for by the U.S. Government” since they began being aired.

• The White House said Trump's political action committee will not reimburse taxpayers for ​the ads that have ​already run. The ⁠ads end with a disclaimer saying they were paid for by the US government.

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