The administration allocated $20 million to the effort using Customs and Border Protection funds. The budget office gave the agency the money on Sept. 19, and CBP awarded an advertising company a contract for that amount the next day. The ads began airing Sept. 23 and include material from Trump's 2024 campaign.
The White House calls the spots public service announcements, but they have drawn bipartisan criticism and complaints alleging illegal use of public funds for propaganda ahead of the midterm elections. Senate Republican Leader John Thune said, “It’s a great message, I like the message, but it shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars.” The New York Times previously reported that Trump personally directed budget chief Russ Vought to find the funding and that budget office and White House lawyers approved the move as legal.