Murray, Murphy Demand Answers on DHS Spending Tax Dollars to Air Trump Campaign Ads

Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin seeking immediate answers about the exact details of DHS’ spending to create and air taxpayer-funded political ads celebrating the president—and demanding the illegal ads come off the air. “It has come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be using Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars to bankroll the obscene political ads celebrating President Trump that have aired on stations nationwide in recent days,” write Murray and Murphy. “We should not have to remind you that using government funding to create or air political ads like the ones that have been running over the last few days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars.” The lawmakers note that it appears DHS has committed $20 million so far for the ad spend, and AdImpact estimates at least $1.7 million has already been spent airing the ads. Senators Murray and Murphy conclude by requesting detailed information within 48 hours about DHS’ involvement in airing the ads, as well as copies of any contracts it has entered into: “The American people deserve answers about how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself—while doing nothing to help them afford health care or housing.” “These ads need to immediately come off the air, taxpayers need to be paid back for this theft, and everyone responsible needs to be held accountable for this corrupt and illegal propaganda,” they conclude. The full letter is available HERE and below: The Honorable Markwayne Mullin Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE Washington, D.C. 20528 cc:       Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mullin, It has come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be using Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars to bankroll the obscene political ads celebrating President Trump that have aired on stations nationwide in recent days. We should not have to remind you that using government funding to create or air political ads like the ones that have been running over the last few days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars. It’s hard to imagine a more damning split screen: while President Trump illegally cuts funding for lifesaving health research, he is also illegally using Americans’ tax dollars to fund government propaganda and to put ads from his 2024 campaign back on the air. So far, it appears DHS has dedicated $20 million to this outrageous scheme, tapping funds provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” for commemorative events relating to border security. Ad-Impact estimates that over $1.7 million in federal funds have already been spent simply airing these ads. This administration’s defense of using Americans’ tax dollars to air these ads is as absurd as it is offensive. The White House has failed to answer our most basic questions about where these funds are coming from and who is responsible, but the principle here is very straightforward: as one Republican senator put it: “you can’t spend public money to promote yourself.” The American people deserve answers about how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself—while doing nothing to help them afford health care or housing. These ads need to immediately come off the air, taxpayers need to be paid back for this theft, and everyone responsible needs to be held accountable for this corrupt and illegal propaganda. To better understand the role DHS has played in facilitating the airing of these ads, please respond to the following questions within 48 hours: Have any funds appropriated for DHS been used to produce, air, or otherwise promote these ads? Please provide an exact breakdown of which funds have been tapped and the amount of taxpayer dollars used. Does DHS plan to use additional federal funds to create new ads or continue airing these ads? Has DHS contracted with any third parties to create or air these, or any related or forthcoming ads? If so, please share copies of each contract DHS has entered into. Who directed the misuse of taxpayer dollars for this purpose? Has anyone in the White House or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed you to air these ads? Have you spoken to the president about this? Has any General Counsel at DHS, another Federal Department, the White House, or OMB reviewed and provided a legal opinion on the use of DHS funding for these ads? Were any federal ethics officials consulted prior to the use of such funds for political ads? We look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, ###