Trump declared the removal of homeless individuals from Washington D.C. - Homeless individuals ordered to vacate Washington D.C. by Trump
Washington, D.C., one of the major cities in the USA, has been in the spotlight recently due to a controversial plan announced by President Donald Trump. The plan, which involves forced eviction of homeless populations, jailing criminals, federal takeover of local police, and deployment of National Guard troops, has sparked a heated debate among local officials, advocacy groups, and legal experts.
On Monday, August 18, 2025, Trump held a press conference to announce his plans for Washington. He declared a public safety emergency and stated his intention to take control of the city's police department, activating 800 National Guard members to reduce crime and remove homeless encampments.
Key details of the plan include the immediate eviction of homeless people from Washington, D.C., with an ambiguous promise of providing places to stay elsewhere, but with no clear legal authority for eviction. Trump targets jailing criminals, but it appears he can only control federal land and buildings in the city, with most city law enforcement and housing programs falling under local authority.
Attorney General Pam Bondi will assume responsibility for the city’s metro police department, but federal law limits this control to 30 days. The administration's declaration of a public safety emergency is part of an effort to "take back" the capital and clear homeless encampments, though city officials dispute a crime surge and call the measures unlawful.
Critics and legal experts have raised concerns about the legality and ethics of forcibly displacing homeless people and the potential worsening of homelessness due to Trump's policies, which emphasize criminalization over housing or social services interventions.
The plan's legality and humanitarian impact remain strongly contested by local officials and advocacy groups. Notably, Trump's mobilization of the National Guard in Washington follows a similar action taken by his administration in California, against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Washington ranks 15th among major cities in the USA in terms of homelessness. Official figures show that the number of crimes in Washington decreased by 26 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year, following a three-decade low in 2024.
Thousands of people spend every night in shelters or on the streets in Washington. Homeless people are often seen near the White House, a stark reminder of the city's ongoing struggle with homelessness.
Trump's intention to take control of Washington is due to his long-standing dislike for the unique arrangement that applies in the city, which is governed by a government elected by the District of Columbia, including the mayor, with the US Congress having an oversight role.
The news of Trump's plans for Washington has sparked protests and calls for resistance from local residents and advocacy groups. The future of homeless populations and public safety in the city remains uncertain as the debate continues.
[1] ABC News. (2025, August 18). Trump declares public safety emergency in Washington, D.C., announces plans to take control of police department. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/trump-declares-public-safety-emergency-washington-d-c-77946332
[2] The Washington Post. (2025, August 18). Trump threatens to put Washington, D.C., under federal control. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trump-threatens-to-put-washington-d-c-under-federal-control/2025/08/18/e0c22922-5125-11ed-a6e6-d67d801a8b3c_story.html
[3] CNN. (2025, August 18). Trump announces plans to take control of Washington, D.C., police department. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/18/politics/trump-washington-d-c-police-department/index.html
[4] The New York Times. (2025, August 18). Legal Experts Question Trump's Authority to Evict Homeless from Washington, D.C. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/us/politics/trump-washington-dc-homeless-eviction.html
On Sunday, in the midst of the Corona-pandemic, disputes arose in the political arena regarding President Donald Trump's plans for Washington, D.C. Trump, who announced his intentions to take control of the city's police department, proposed an eviction of homeless populations from the capital, as part of his plan to address crime and homelessness. Critics and legal experts, however, challenged the legality and ethics of forcibly displacing homeless people, arguing that it might exacerbate existing issues.
Simultaneously, discussions about war-and-conflicts were ongoing, with Trump's administration facing criticism for mobilizing the National Guard in Washington, a move that parallels its actions in California against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom. As the future of homeless populations and public safety in Washington remains uncertain, the debates around politics, general news, and the unique arrangement that governs the city continue unabated.
