President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping executive order aimed at addressing America’s growing homelessness crisis by giving local governments expanded authority to clear street encampments and direct individuals toward treatment and rehabilitation services. The order, announced Thursday, marks one of the administration’s most aggressive domestic initiatives and has triggered intense national debate.
The White House described the action as a “common-sense strategy” to restore safety and dignity in U.S. cities. Under the directive, Attorney General Pam Bondi will oversee efforts to override certain legal restrictions that previously prevented municipalities from removing encampments or relocating individuals from public spaces. Bondi will coordinate with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to expedite funding for local governments that implement measures addressing open drug use, squatting, and street disorder.
Speaking from the South Lawn, Trump defended the measure as necessary for both domestic and international reasons. “Right outside, there were some tents, and they’re getting rid of them right now,” he said. “You can’t do that — especially in Washington, D.C. … We can’t have it … when leaders come to see me to make a trade deal for billions and billions and even trillions of dollars, and they come in and there’s tents outside of the White House. We can’t have that. It doesn’t sound nice.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the initiative combines enforcement with compassion, asserting that “by removing vagrant criminals from our streets and redirecting resources toward substance-abuse programs, the Trump Administration will ensure that Americans feel safe in their own communities and that individuals suffering from addiction or mental health struggles are able to get the help they need.”
However, advocacy groups and civil-rights organizations swiftly condemned the order, calling it punitive and unconstitutional. The National Coalition for the Homeless argued that it rejects decades of proven housing-first strategies in favor of enforcement tactics that worsen conditions for the unhoused. The National Homelessness Law Center labeled the order “dangerous,” warning it could strip basic rights and push more people into unsafe living conditions.
The move follows a recent Supreme Court decision that upheld a city’s authority to fine individuals for sleeping in public spaces, ruling such penalties do not violate the Eighth Amendment. That precedent has emboldened some cities to adopt stricter policies on encampments, aligning with the administration’s stance.
Beyond enforcement, the order also calls for enhanced monitoring of registered sex offenders within homeless populations to ensure compliance with residency restrictions near schools and playgrounds. Federal agencies have been directed to improve tracking and coordination with local law enforcement as part of a broader public-safety initiative.
Reactions from city leaders have been mixed. Some view the order as long overdue, offering much-needed federal backing for overwhelmed municipalities. Others caution that redirecting resources toward enforcement instead of affordable housing could backfire. “We understand the need for order,” said one Los Angeles city council member, “but criminalizing homelessness doesn’t solve homelessness.”
Trump officials counter that the order represents a balanced approach. HHS Secretary Kennedy emphasized that “we’re not talking about jailing people — we’re talking about offering structured care, support, and treatment.”
Public opinion remains sharply divided. Supporters have praised the president for taking decisive action, arguing that encampments threaten safety and sanitation in major cities. Opponents describe the order as a “war on the poor,” warning that forced institutionalization and expanded policing will deepen, not resolve, the crisis.
Homelessness in the United States has risen significantly, with federal data showing more than 770,000 Americans experiencing homelessness in 2024 — an 18 percent increase from the previous year. Analysts attribute the surge to high housing costs, natural disasters, and increased migration.
The executive order makes homelessness a central issue of Trump’s 2024 campaign promise to “restore order” to American cities. At a rally last fall, he declared, “The homeless encampments will be gone. They’re going to be gone. And we’ve got to take care of the people.”
Whether this new directive achieves that dual goal — reducing public encampments while improving lives — remains uncertain. For now, it has reignited a national debate over how to balance public safety, human dignity, and civil rights in confronting one of the nation’s most visible social challenges.