Trump pledges to forcibly remove homeless individuals from Washington, potentially mobilizing National Guard troops
Trump Plans to Evict Homeless from Washington D.C., Increase Federal Law Enforcement
As of August 2025, President Donald Trump has ordered the eviction of homeless individuals from Washington D.C., demanding they "move out immediately" or face eviction. The president has also pledged to increase federal law enforcement presence in the city to address crime and cleanliness.
Trump announced plans to provide alternative places for the homeless to stay, but notably far from the capital. He intends to conduct a news conference detailing crime prevention and city cleanup measures, emphasizing federal control over certain lands in D.C., although local governance largely manages city decisions under the Home Rule Act of 1973.
The administration is preparing to deploy National Guard troops, a tactic Trump used recently in Los Angeles. However, the White House has declined to explain what legal authority Trump would use to evict people from Washington.
In a statement, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington stated that the city is not experiencing a crime spike. She also mentioned that most homeless individuals in Washington are already in emergency shelters or transitional housing, not on the street.
Trump's approach faces criticism. His 2026 budget proposes eliminating the Continuum of Care program, a key federal initiative under the Department of Housing and Urban Development that funds community-wide plans to end homelessness by moving individuals into permanent housing. Experts warn that cutting this funding would undermine efforts to help homeless people find stable housing.
Additionally, an executive order signed by Trump directs states to treat homelessness and mental illness more as criminal issues, increasing the use of police and institutionalization rather than housing-based solutions. The National Homelessness Law Center strongly condemns this policy as harmful, citing that it worsens homelessness by depriving people of their rights, cutting funding for crucial programs, and promoting ineffective and unethical responses.
The deployment of federal law enforcement officers in Washington has been a topic of concern. On Friday and Saturday, 450 federal law enforcement officers were deployed across the city. Alleged crimes investigated by federal agents included "multiple persons carrying a pistol without a license," motorists driving on suspended licenses, and dirt bike riding.
In the past, the National Guard has been deployed in Washington, D.C., including in response to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It remains to be seen whether Trump will announce more details of his eviction plan at the press conference he plans to hold early in the week.
*References*
[1] NBC News. (2025, August 1). Trump orders eviction of homeless people from Washington D.C., plans to increase federal law enforcement. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-orders-eviction-homeless-people-washington-d-c-plans-increase-n1250056
[2] The Hill. (2025, August 2). Trump budget proposes eliminating key federal homelessness program. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/572471-trump-budget-proposes-eliminating-key-federal-homelessness-program
[3] Washington Post. (2025, August 3). Federal authorities clear homeless encampments in Washington D.C. as part of Trump's eviction plan. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/federal-authorities-clear-homeless-encampments-in-washington-d-c-as-part-of-trumps-eviction-plan/2025/08/03/05c8c646-677f-11eb-8a67-b72a2266e1e4_story.html
[4] National Homelessness Law Center. (2025, August 4). Trump executive order criminalizes homelessness and mental illness. Retrieved from https://www.nationallawcenter.org/press-releases/trump-executive-order-criminalizes-homelessness-and-mental-illness/
The unexpected eviction plan by President Trump, which involves removing homeless individuals from Washington D.C., does not align with the city's current crime situation as stated by Mayor Muriel Bowser. This plan, if implemented, would be part of a broader policy shift, as the president's budget proposal for 2026 aims to eliminate the Continuum of Care program, a key federal initiative aimed at ending homelessness. Meanwhile, the administration's executive order directs states to treat homelessness and mental illness as criminal issues, a move strongly condemned by the National Homelessness Law Center.
