The Democratic National Committee is taking the Trump administration to court over taxpayer-funded television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump.
The DNC filed a federal lawsuit on October 7 challenging the administration’s use of government money to pay for advertisements that highlight Trump and his administration’s policies.
The lawsuit alleges the advertisements cross the line from legitimate government communication into political promotion and violate federal restrictions on using taxpayer dollars for unauthorized “publicity or propaganda.”
According to court filings and news reports, more than $12 million in taxpayer-funded advertisements have already aired as part of a larger $20 million advertising contract involving the Department of Homeland Security.
The DNC argues that the advertisements resemble campaign messaging and should not be financed with public money, particularly with the November midterm elections approaching.
The Trump administration has defended the advertisements as legitimate government messaging about its policies and accomplishments.
President Trump has also said that his political organization would pay for future advertisements rather than using government funds.
The lawsuit asks a federal court to stop the administration from spending additional taxpayer dollars on the ads.
The DNC is not alone in challenging the spending. A separate lawsuit involving Common Cause and other plaintiffs has raised similar arguments about the legality of the advertisements.
The courts will now determine whether the government-funded campaign violated federal spending laws.