WASHINGTON, United States — A $20 million federal advertising contract featuring President Donald Trump is drawing congressional scrutiny after government records showed that the money came from Department of Homeland Security funds Congress had provided for border-related programmes and commemorative events.
The television spots, which began appearing in late September, prominently feature Trump and carry disclosures stating that they were paid for by the United States government.
Democratic lawmakers contend that the advertisements amount to political promotion financed with public money, while the White House says they are legitimate public service announcements.
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, The Washington Post reported that federal spending records traced the advertising money to funds Congress had designated for Customs and Border Protection.
$20 Million Added to Commemorative Account
The White House Office of Management and Budget placed an additional $20 million into a DHS budget category for commemorative events on September 19, according to federal records reviewed by The Post.
The government had previously planned to spend about $1 million through that account.
A day later, DHS awarded LMD Agency, a Maryland advertising and public-relations company, a $20 million contract for a national media campaign.
ABC News separately reported the contract and the transfer of money into the Customs and Border Protection account.
The additional money was drawn from billions of dollars Congress appropriated to Customs and Border Protection in the 2025 domestic spending legislation promoted by Trump.
Congress authorised that pool of money for purposes including inspection equipment at ports of entry, surveillance and biometric technology, air and marine operations, screening at the border, and measures targeting drug trafficking.
It also authorised spending on commemorative activities connected to border security.
A House Budget Committee report described the commemorative category as covering events including memorials for officers who died in the line of duty, agency anniversaries, and ceremonies recognising service.
The administration has not said that money previously committed to a specific memorial was cancelled to pay for the advertisements.
Ads Echo Earlier Trump Campaign Material
At least one of the government-funded spots closely resembles advertising used by Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, according to The Post and the Associated Press.
Another advertisement features Trump alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth discussing the administration’s war with Iran.
The advertisements identify the United States government as their sponsor.
ABC News reported that at least $1.7 million had already been spent airing three television advertisements featuring Trump, based on estimates from AdImpact, which tracks advertising purchases.
The ads have appeared on national television during a midterm election season, although Trump himself is not a candidate in the November elections.
Democrats Seek Investigations
Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Chris Murphy of Connecticut have asked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for information about the source of the money, the department’s contracts, and whether federal officials conducted a legal review before the advertisements were commissioned.
In a September 29 letter, the Democratic senators called the spending an “illegal” use of government money and demanded that DHS disclose how much had been spent and whether additional advertisements were planned.
Representatives Jamie Raskin of Maryland and George Whitesides of California separately asked the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel to investigate.
Their September 30 letter argued that the advertisements could violate restrictions on federally funded publicity or propaganda, as well as provisions of the Hatch Act and the Antideficiency Act.
They asked the GAO for a formal assessment of the funding and its legality.
The lawmakers’ assertions are allegations.
The requested investigations had not produced a finding that the administration violated those laws as of Thursday.
Federal appropriations measures have long contained restrictions on the use of government funds for unauthorised publicity or propaganda.
The Government Accountability Office has previously examined government communications under those provisions.
White House Defends Ads as Public Service Messages
The White House rejects the characterisation of the advertisements as campaign material.
In a September 25 statement, it said the spots were intended to encourage patriotism and inform Americans about the country and the administration’s policies.
The administration said the advertisements were “clearly not campaign ads”, noting that Trump is not on the ballot and that the messages do not instruct viewers to vote or take another electoral action.
DHS told The Post that its contracting decisions complied with applicable laws. The Office of Management and Budget and DHS did not provide The Post with a detailed explanation of why the $20 million advertising campaign qualified for spending from the commemorative-events account.
The White House has cited advertising and public-information efforts under previous administrations, including campaigns promoting Medicare changes under President George W. Bush, health insurance enrolment under President Barack Obama, and Covid-19 public-health messaging under President Joe Biden.
Government advertising itself is not unusual.
The dispute centres on whether the content and funding of these particular advertisements fall within purposes authorised by Congress or cross legal restrictions governing the use of public money for political activity.
The White House has indicated that the advertising campaign will continue and expand, while lawmakers seeking investigations are asking federal oversight agencies to determine whether the spending complied with federal law.
