FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez says she recognizes the concern that taxpayer dollars are being used to promote a political message
Anna GomezCommissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, in a statement to NBC News
In a statement NBC News published on September 30, 2026, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez said she recognizes the concern shared by others that taxpayer dollars are being used to promote a political message, particularly given the timing of the ads so close to an election. She said it is not surprising to see the FCC exercise a double standard in its investigative decisions and that she is certain we will hear more about this from members of Congress, who she said are ultimately responsible.
“I recognize the concern shared by others that taxpayer dollars are being used to promote a political message, particularly given the timing of these ads coming so close to an election. While it is not surprising to see the FCC exercise a double standard when it comes to its investigative decisions, I am certain we will hear more about this from folks in Congress, who are ultimately responsible.”
Reporting
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should taxpayers fund Trump's "public service" television ads?
Since late September 2026, the White House has aired television ads that feature President Trump and end with the words "Paid for by the U.S. Government". The White House calls them public service announcements and says they are not campaign ads. Democrats, some Republicans including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and watchdog groups oppose using taxpayer money for the spots, and some allege violations of federal law. Senator Cynthia Lummis and Vice President JD Vance defend the spending. Federal records show that Customs and Border Protection awarded the ad agency LMD a $20 million contract for a media campaign on September 20, and the tracking firm AdImpact estimated at least $10.1 million in airtime spending as of October 5. On October 5, Trump said he would pay for the ads himself and with money raised for MAGA, Inc.; NBC News reported that MAGA Inc. and the White House had not answered whether taxpayers would be reimbursed for ads that had aired. The dispute is whether federal money should pay for these ads.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
NBC News report, timed 5:30 p.m. EDT and updated at 5:53 p.m. It says Carr spoke to reporters and was asked about allegations that the ads are propaganda and about the Public Citizen complaint. It also prints a statement Commissioner Anna Gomez gave NBC News.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
The Reuters report as carried by the Fargo radio station KFGO, timed 11:58 a.m. Central. It quotes Carr as saying there is nothing in the ads to merit FCC review or any liability for a broadcaster, and it quotes Gomez separately. Reuters' wording of the Carr quotation differs slightly from NBC News and TheWrap.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Deadline's report of the FCC news conference on September 30. It quotes Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Anna Gomez, who it says spoke as a regular citizen and not as an FCC commissioner.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Chairman Brendan Carr had told reporters on September 30 that nothing in the ads merits FCC review, and Public Citizen had filed a complaint with the FCC the day before.
After the quotation
Reuters separately reported that Gomez criticized the ads and quoted her as saying that the administration has launched an aggressive effort to influence the outcome of the midterm elections. Deadline reported that she told reporters, speaking as a regular citizen and not as an FCC commissioner, that she could see why people think the ads are political ads.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The conduct under scrutiny is federal payment for Trump-promoting ads. Gomez says she recognizes the concern that taxpayer dollars are being used to promote a political message, particularly given the timing before an election, and says the FCC applies a double standard in its investigative decisions. Reuters separately reported that she criticized the ads. She does not state a separate evaluation of public payment. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it does not fit because she states no condition and nothing in her statement supports the spending.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Donald Trump
More from this case
Read the full caseDHS refers questions about the contract and funding for the Trump ads to the White House
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
“We refer you to the White House.”Read statement
Trump announces a switch to personal and PAC funding for the ads
“which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money. This is a rather standard thing to do but, rather than doing that, although nothing will make them happy, I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.”Read statement
California Attorney General Rob Bonta says the taxpayer-funded ads are illegal and asks federal watchdogs to investigate
“It's also illegal. I call on federal watchdogs to investigate and prosecute this staggering misuse of public funding and breach of public trust.”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez says she recognizes the concern that taxpayer dollars are being used to promote a political message
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/4844-in-a-statement-nbc-news-published-on-september
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez says she recognizes the concern that taxpayer dollars are being used to promote a political message". First published: 2026-10-06. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/events/4844-in-a-statement-nbc-news-published-on-september