DHS Diverted $20 Million to Fund Pro-Trump Ad Campaign, Records Show

U.S. Customs and Border Protection moved federal funds into an account for "commemorative events" on Sept. 19, then awarded a $20 million contract the next day to the LMD Agency, a Maryland-based advertising firm, for a "National Media Campaign," according to federal budget and contract records cited by ABC News. Days later, TV ads featuring President Donald Trump began airing on Fox and NBC broadcasts, including during Saturday college football coverage and Sunday's "Fox News Sunday" and "Meet the Press."

How much has the ad campaign spent so far?

The federal government has spent at least $1.7 million airing three different Trump-focused TV ads in recent days, according to an estimate from AdImpact, which tracks political ad spending across TV, digital and connected TV platforms. One spot that ran during college football and on "Fox News Sunday" had previously been used in a 2023 Trump campaign ad.

Where did the $20 million come from?

The money traces back to Trump's 2025 tax and spending bill, which set aside $6.2 billion for border security improvements — including a line item for "commemorating efforts and events related to border security," per the records reviewed by ABC News. CBP, the DHS agency responsible for securing the border and ports of entry, is the unit that received the reallocated funds before the contract went out. DHS directed ABC's inquiries to the White House. LMD Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What does the White House say about the ads?

A White House spokesperson told ABC News the spots are public service announcements, not campaign material: "These public service announcements are about reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad. The ad is educational and unapologetically patriotic. We should be proud of our country." The administration has compared the campaign to past PSAs promoting Medicare drug coverage and Affordable Care Act enrollment.

What are Democrats and critics arguing?

Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding a breakdown of the funds, whether the ads will keep airing, and what role DHS played in placing them. The letter accuses the administration of "stealing" tax dollars for self-promotion rather than addressing costs facing Americans. Separately, critics have questioned whether the campaign runs afoul of federal law barring the use of appropriated funds for propaganda. DHS has previously used advertising dollars for campaigns encouraging people in the country illegally to self-deport, per ABC News.

Key terms in this story

• CBP (Customs and Border Protection): The DHS component responsible for border and port security; it held the account the ad funds moved through.
• "Commemorative events" account: A budget line under the 2025 tax and spending law intended for activities tied to border security milestones, now linked to the ad contract.
• Federal propaganda law: Restrictions barring executive agencies from spending appropriated funds on self-promotional or covert propaganda materials, the basis for critics' objections.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the source of the federal funds, according to ABC News.