Judge Rochon temporarily blocks taxpayer-funded Trump television ads

U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon issued a temporary restraining order on 11 October 2026 barring the government from using, disbursing or transferring taxpayer funds for the challenged television advertising campaign featuring President Donald Trump. Her 12 October opinion said the moving plaintiffs had shown a clear and substantial likelihood of success on specified Administrative Procedure Act claims tied to federal appropriations restrictions. The order was preliminary and did not finally decide every allegation in the lawsuit. The administration had argued that the dispute was becoming moot because the taxpayer-funded campaign was ending and future placements could be privately financed.