WASHINGTON — Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Tuesday that the Trump administration appears to have directed $20 million in Department of Homeland Security funding to a television advertising campaign featuring President Donald Trump, raising questions about the use of taxpayer money ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the Democrats said the money came from funds provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the tax-and-spending law Trump signed last year. The information provided about the letter did not establish whether the department has confirmed the funding arrangement. The ads have aired on broadcast and cable television and carry the disclaimer “paid for by the U.S. government.” The first spot, which began airing last week, features Trump criticizing communism and socialism. Another reportedly resembles a video from Trump’s 2024 campaign. The campaign-style messaging has drawn criticism from both parties, with lawmakers questioning whether government resources may be used to promote a president politically. The ads’ timing, as the country approaches the midterms, adds to concerns about the boundary between public communications and campaign messaging. The available details do not establish whether the spending violated the law. The dispute also puts a spotlight on the use of money Congress allocated to a federal border agency. Murray and Murphy’s letter links the reported ad spending to CBP funding, but the details provided do not specify how the department justified the expenditure or what response Mullin has given.