US president Donald Trump Signs Executive Order Overhauling Federal Approach to clear the States cities from the homeless problem
WASHINGTON D.C. – July 24, 2025 –
President Donald Trump today intensified his administration’s focus on homelessness, signing an executive order aimed at making it easier for cities and states to remove individuals from the streets and redirecting federal resources towards programs prioritizing treatment and enforcement of anti-vagrancy laws. The move fulfills a key campaign promise and marks a significant departure from decades of “Housing First” policies.
The executive order, titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets,” explicitly calls for a shift in federal funding. Instead of prioritizing programs that immediately place homeless individuals into housing and then offer supportive services (“Housing First”), the new directive will favor initiatives that require sobriety and mental health or addiction treatment. It also prioritizes funding for cities that actively enforce bans on urban camping, loitering, and open illicit drug use.
“Shifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment will restore public order,” the White House stated in a fact sheet. The order also encourages states and cities to expand the use of civil commitment for individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders who are deemed a risk to themselves or others, or who cannot care for themselves while living on the streets.
This new federal approach has been met with strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. Supporters argue that the previous “Housing First” model has failed to adequately address the underlying issues of mental illness and addiction that contribute to homelessness, leading to increased encampments and public disorder. They contend that a more proactive and treatment-oriented approach is necessary to ensure public safety and genuinely help those struggling.
However, advocates for the homeless and many social service organizations have voiced significant concerns. Jesse Rabinowitz with the National Homelessness Law Center stated that the executive order “is forcing people to choose between compassionate data driven approaches like housing, or treating it like a crime to have a mental illness or be homeless.” Critics argue that clearing encampments without providing adequate, accessible, and voluntary housing and support services simply displaces individuals to more isolated and dangerous areas, worsening their health outcomes and making it harder for service providers to reach them. Studies indicate that encampment sweeps can cause trauma, worsen mental health conditions, destroy life-saving medications, and increase the risk of overdose.
The order also directs federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, to assess federal grant programs and prioritize funding for jurisdictions that comply with these new policies. This could lead to a significant reallocation of resources and potentially jeopardize funding for cities that continue to adhere to “Housing First” or harm reduction models.
Earlier this year, in March 2025, President Trump also signed an executive order directing the National Park Service to clear all homeless encampments on federal lands. Furthermore, his administration has previously indicated intentions to dismantle the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
As cities across the nation grapple with rising homelessness, the new federal directive is expected to spark intense debate and potentially lead to legal challenges over its implementation and impact on the rights and well-being of unhoused individuals. The practical effects of this policy shift on the ground remain to be seen, but it signals a fundamental change in the federal government’s strategy for addressing homelessness in America.
