Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Joe Morelle, Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations, sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding information about the production of a new television advertisement with the disclaimer: “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”
While Americans are struggling to pay rent, feed their families, and afford a trip to the doctor, Donald Trump and Republicans have done nothing to address the crushing cost of living crisis. Instead, they have prioritized vanity projects like this advertisement and flagrantly abused hardworking taxpayer dollars while escalating the conflict abroad in Iran, leading to the worst economic catastrophe since the Great Recession.
“This advertisement indicates a potential significant misuse of taxpayer funds and federal government resources for what appears to be political advertising. Given the proximity to the November midterm elections, this advertisement—and the circumstances surrounding its development and production—warrants an immediate investigation,” the Members wrote.
The Ranking Members demanded the Trump administration immediately cease airing the advertisement. They also outlined that Americans have a right to know:
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Whether any federal agency or office authorized and paid for the advertisement and if so, which one;
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Where the advertisement was written and developed—specifically whether any part of the advertisement was produced on government property or with government resources;
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The specific appropriation and statutory authority used to fund and justify the advertisement;
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What person or persons individually authorized and approved the advertisement’s development and content; and
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What, if any, legal review of relevant federal statutes was conducted before it was broadcast
The Members continued, “the President of the United States already has broad latitude to speak publicly and advocate for his or her policies. Neither you nor your unnamed ideological apparatchiks, however, have the power to funnel taxpayer-funded government resources toward a political advertisement. Such behavior deepens the American people’s preexisting fury at your Administration’s rampant corruption and injures the civic health of our nation. While federal law already limits the ability of the White House to produce advertisements of this nature, it may be that Congress must consider what further legislation is needed to strengthen these guardrails to ensure that no future president—no matter how personally insecure—is able to abuse taxpayer resources as you have.”
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