President Trump Thursday was reportedly set to signal an government order geared toward eradicating homeless folks from streets.
The measure, billed as a “Ending Vagrancy and Restoring Order” motion, calls on Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi to hunt to overturn authorized rulings the Trump administration says make it troublesome for cities and states to pressure homeless folks into shelters and substance-abuse facilities, USA At the moment first reported.
It might redirect federal funding for homeless applications, lots of which purpose to offer housing to these in want, to habit and psychological well being applications, though it was not instantly clear how a lot cash can be concerned.
“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,” White Home spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt mentioned.
The order additionally seeks to prioritize federal grants to these states and cities with “prohibitions on open illicit drug use, urban camping and loitering, and urban squatting, and track the location of sex offenders.”
Official figures say America’s homeless inhabitants is greater than 700,000 and rising. However advocates say the quantity is definitely a lot increased.
New York Metropolis is one of some jurisdictions with a “right to shelter,” that means in principle that any homeless individual has the proper to a spot in a shelter.
Trump has made preventing massive metropolis crime and dysfunction a serious plank of his second White Home time period, though most measures present crime is declining. As an alternative of working with Congress or massive metropolis mayors, most of whom are Democrats, he has most well-liked to enact government orders, a few of which have confronted vital scrutiny from courts.
The edict is touted as forming a part of Trump’s dedication to ending homelessness, in accordance with a White Home reality sheet. It comes after an government order in March directed the Nationwide Park Service to clear homeless encampments and graffiti on federal lands.
The Supreme Courtroom dominated in June that that authorities can advantageous or arrest homeless folks for sleeping in public areas. The ruling, which was authorized by a 6-3 margin alongside ideological traces, overturned a decrease court docket’s ruling that it’s merciless and strange punishment to implement tenting bans when shelter is missing.
Initially Printed: July 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM EDT
