The Department of Homeland Security has tapped $20 million in taxpayer funds to pay for campaign-style advertisements glorifying President Donald Trump, the Associated Press reports. This move has sparked intense criticism from both sides of the aisle, with many questioning the legality of using federal resources for what appear to be political promotions. The funds were originally allocated for U.S. Customs and Border Protection as part of a legislative package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Trump signed into law last summer. In a letter sent Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Senator Patty Murray of Washington and Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut expressed their strong disapproval. The senators, who serve in key leadership roles on the Senate Appropriations Committee and its relevant subcommittee, did not hold back. “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,” they wrote. They also demanded answers regarding “how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself.” The senators have requested that Secretary Mullin provide a response within 48 hours They specifically asked whether the department intends to utilize further federal funds for additional ads and requested full disclosure of all contracting information. Furthermore, they inquired whether the secretary had any direct discussions with President Trump regarding the use of these specific taxpayer funds for the campaign. Exclusive: The Trump administration used Homeland Security funds to finance a set of controversial pro-Trump advertisements that recently began airing on television. https://t.co/rMcw9zoEU7— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 29, 2026 The White House continues to maintain that these advertisements are public service announcements. When asked for comment on Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security pointed toward the administration’s earlier defense of the spots. This response has done little to calm the growing scrutiny, especially as legal experts point out that the ads differ significantly from traditional government outreach. Unlike standard PSAs, these commercials do not assist citizens in accessing specific government programs. Instead, they feature imagery from the president’s time in office and echo common midterm election slogans. One notable spot even includes a song with the refrain “Love me, Love me” in the background. Another advertisement released over the weekend mirrors the aesthetic of a video from the president’s 2024 campaign. It shows President Trump walking down a hallway while his voice warns of a “final battle” against “globalists” and “warmongers.” The video concludes with the president looking directly into the camera lens with the text “Paid for by the U.S. Government” displayed on the screen. Data from the firm AdImpact indicates that more than $2.5 million has already been spent on these three ads over the past seven days. However, the total expenditure could be much higher depending on how various networks categorize the content. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, has compared the nature of these advertisements to those used by Viktor Orban, the former leader of Hungary. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that the effort “shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars.” According to federal data, a $20 million contract for a “National Media Campaign” was awarded to the LMD Agency, Inc. on September 20. This followed a move by the Office of Management and Budget, led by Russ Vought, to shift the funds from Homeland Security resources on September 19.