President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a sweeping executive order aimed at overhauling the nation’s approach to homelessness by mandating the relocation of unhoused individuals into treatment, rehabilitation, and housing facilities.
Executive Order: “Ending Vagrancy and Restoring Order”
The new order, titled “Ending Vagrancy and Restoring Order,” directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to dismantle judicial restrictions—such as consent decrees and legal precedents—that currently prevent cities and states from removing homeless individuals from public spaces and placing them in structured care environments.
The order also allows local jurisdictions to prioritize exclusive facilities for women and children, and prohibits the housing of registered sex offenders in shelters where minors are present.
Why This Matters
Trump’s executive order marks a significant policy shift in federal homelessness strategy. It redirects funding toward communities that enforce bans on open drug use, urban squatting, and tent cities, while tracking the movement of sex offenders in the homeless population.
According to 2024 data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. had over 771,000 homeless individuals, including nearly 168,000 chronically homeless—those with long-term or recurring homelessness often tied to mental illness or addiction.
Implementation Plan
Under the order, Attorney General Bondi will coordinate with the heads of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation to ensure federal grants are prioritized for jurisdictions that:
- Prohibit drug use in public
- Enforce bans on unauthorized camping and squatting
- Maintain registries and monitoring of homeless sex offenders
The administration will also promote programs that segregate shelter populations by need and risk level.
White House Statement
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the move, saying:
“President Trump is delivering on his promise to Make America Safe Again by restoring order in our cities and getting vulnerable people the help they desperately need. By removing vagrant criminals from our streets and redirecting resources toward substance abuse treatment and recovery, the Trump administration is putting Americans’ safety first.”
Trump’s Broader Homelessness Policy
This is the third executive order President Trump has signed in 2025 targeting homelessness. In March, he ordered the National Park Service to clear and beautify federal lands in Washington, D.C., including removing encampments from national parks and monuments. In May, he launched the National Center for Warrior Independence, a facility for homeless veterans to access care and benefits under one roof.
Legal Backing from Supreme Court
The Trump administration’s crackdown comes on the heels of a major Supreme Court ruling in June 2024 that upheld a city ordinance in Grants Pass, Oregon, allowing local authorities to fine or remove homeless individuals camping in public spaces. The 6–3 ruling found that such policies do not violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
Looking Ahead
As cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle struggle to contain sprawling encampments, Trump’s new directive may force local governments to act or risk losing federal funding.
Whether legal challenges will follow remains to be seen, but for now, the Trump administration is forging ahead with a tough-on-homelessness stance—one the president argues is rooted in safety, recovery, and accountability.
