Story perspectives

Senators Demand Answers After DHS Spends $20M on Trump Ads

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 10:22 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Department of Homeland Security spent $20 million of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) funds on TV ads featuring President Donald Trump.
The ads were labeled “Paid for by the U.S. Government” and aired in September 2026.
DHS awarded a $20 million contract to Maryland-based LMD Agency on Sept. 20 for a “National Media Campaign.”
Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) wrote to Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers within 48 hours.
Legal experts say the ads likely violate federal anti-propaganda statutes and the Hatch Act.

History

Historical Context

The Smith–Mundt Act, signed on January 27, 1948, prohibited the State Department and the U.S. Information Agency from directing propaganda at U.S. audiences; amendments in 1972 and 1985 reinforced the ban, while the 2012 modernization act permitted limited domestic release. Its legacy now shapes debates over federal use of advertising for partisan purposes.

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Story summary

The Department of Homeland Security spent $20 million of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) funds on TV ads featuring President Donald Trump.
The ads were labeled “Paid for by the U.S. Government” and aired in September 2026.
DHS awarded a $20 million contract to Maryland-based LMD Agency on Sept. 20 for a “National Media Campaign.”
Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) wrote to Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers within 48 hours.
Legal experts say the ads likely violate federal anti-propaganda statutes and the Hatch Act.

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