Agents from the federal government convene in Washington D.C. to execute Trump's orders for a harsh enforcement of homeless camps.
President Trump's plan to clear homeless encampments in Washington, D.C., has sparked a contentious conflict between federal authorities and local officials. The plan, which involves immediate removal of camps, deployment of National Guard troops and federal agents, and temporary takeover of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, has been met with criticism from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and homeless advocates.
As of August 2025, about 70 homeless encampments have been removed via the U.S. Park Police, with only two remaining camps under National Park Service jurisdiction, scheduled for removal shortly. Homeless individuals have been given the option to go to shelters, but those refusing risk fines or jail time.
The federal government's rationale for the clear outs is to rescue D.C. from crime, bedlam, and squalor, a claim disputed by Mayor Bowser who cites data showing violent crime near 30-year lows, except for homicide rates, which remain a concern. Advocates warn that forcibly removing homeless people without sufficient affordable housing or support services will likely worsen the crisis.
On Thursday night, federal agents gathered in Washington, D.C., to clear out homeless encampments. At the Washington Circle site, CNN did not observe agents removing tents, and after an extended back and forth, the federal agents left the scene. Meghann Abraham, a homeless individual in Washington Circle, expressed her willingness to peacefully pack up her belongings if asked.
Lawyers from the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless intervened with the agents and pointed to the notice, which was from the D.C. Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, giving occupants until 10 a.m. on Monday to leave. Kierstin Quinsland, spokesperson for Miriam's Kitchen in D.C., mentioned that encampments throughout the city would begin to be cleared out that night, but the federal government hadn't shared a plan with outreach groups.
Quinsland described the scale of the planned clear outs as unprecedented. She expressed concern about people losing their chances for housing because they are being cut off from their support system. Abraham stated that she was not scared and felt she was not doing anything wrong. Trump posted photos of the encampment on social media last week, declaring that homeless people "have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," and promising to provide places for them to stay, but far from the Capital.
Quinsland stated that the clear outs are likely aimed at hiding the fact that homeless individuals are living outside, regardless of their location. The gathering in Washington Circle took place near George Washington University. A major sweep took place earlier Thursday morning at an encampment near the Lincoln Memorial and Kennedy Center.
The conflict over homelessness in D.C. remains highly contentious, with both sides expressing concern for the welfare of the homeless population and the safety of the city. As the deadline for the clear outs approaches, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
- The ongoing policy-and-legislation debate surrounding President Trump's plan to clear homeless encampments in Washington, D.C., involves discord between federal authorities and local officials, as seen in the recent conflict over encampment clear outs.
- The controversy over the homeless clear outs in D.C. encompasses diverse perspectives, with homeless individuals, advocates, and local officials challenging the federal government's rationale for the clear outs and calling for sufficient affordable housing and support services to address the issue comprehensively.
