{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-murray-press-trump-administration-on-taxpayer-sponsored-trump-campaign-ads", "Murphy, Murray Press Trump Administration On Taxpayer-Sponsored Trump Campaign Ads", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to press the Trump Administration for immediate answers about the exact details of Department of Homeland Security (DHS)\u2019s spending to create and air taxpayer-funded political ads celebrating the president\u2014and demanding the illegal ads come off the air.\n\nIn a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the Senators wrote: \u201cIt has come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be using Americans\u2019 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.\u201d\n\nThe 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.\n\nSenators Murphy and Murray conclude by requesting detailed information within 48 hours about DHS\u2019 involvement in airing the ads, as well as copies of any contracts it has entered into: \u201cThe American people deserve answers about how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself\u2014while 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,\u201d the Senators conclude.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Murphy is the lead Democrat negotiating DHS funding and overseeing DHS expenditures. During the second Trump Administration, Murphy has led the charge to bring accountability and transparency to DHS funding, including spearheading Democrats\u2019 push for reforms to ICE during recent appropriations processes.\n\nThe full letter is available here and below:\n\nSecretary Mullin,\n\nIt has come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be using Americans\u2019 hard-earned tax dollars to bankroll the obscene political ads celebrating President Trump that have aired on stations nationwide in recent days.[1] 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.[2]\n\nIt\u2019s hard to imagine a more damning split screen: while President Trump illegally cuts funding for lifesaving health research,[3] he is also illegally using Americans\u2019 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\u2019 \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act\u201d for commemorative events relating to border security.[4] Ad-Impact estimates that over $1.7 million in federal funds have already been spent simply airing these ads.[5]\n\nThis administration\u2019s defense of using Americans\u2019 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: \u201cyou can\u2019t spend public money to promote yourself.\u201d[6]\n\nThe American people deserve answers about how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself\u2014while 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.\n\nTo better understand the role DHS has played in facilitating the airing of these ads, please respond to the following questions within 48 hours:\n\nHave any funds appropriated for DHS been used to produce, air, or otherwise promote these ads?\n\nPlease provide an exact breakdown of which funds have been tapped and the amount of taxpayer dollars used.\n\nDoes DHS plan to use additional federal funds to create new ads or continue airing these ads?\n\nHas DHS contracted with any third parties to create or air these, or any related or forthcoming ads?\n\nIf so, please share copies of each contract DHS has entered into.\n\nWho 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?\n\nHave you spoken to the president about this?\n\nHas 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?\n\nWere any federal ethics officials consulted prior to the use of such funds for political ads?\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response.", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-murray-press-trump-administration-on-taxpayer-sponsored-trump-campaign-ads"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5225103124976158, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}