U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday (25.07.2025), calling on states and local authorities to dismantle homeless encampments and relocate residents to treatment or rehabilitation centers. According to the text of the order, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is tasked with overturning legal precedents at both federal and state levels to facilitate the removal of homeless individuals, though how this will be legally achieved remains unclear.
The directive follows a 2024 Supreme Court decision that allowed municipalities to ban homeless camps in public spaces. Human rights organizations have condemned the move as a criminalization of poverty. The National Coalition for the Homeless criticized the order, arguing it undermines legal protections for vulnerable populations, including those with mental illnesses. The group accused the Trump administration of violating civil rights and legal guarantees consistently throughout its tenure.
Similarly, the National Homelessness Law Center labeled the policy ‘unethical, ineffective, and illegal,’ warning it would exacerbate homelessness and deprive the most vulnerable of essential resources. Critics argue the order forces people off the streets without offering viable housing alternatives.
Notably, the executive order does not include plans to expand shelter infrastructure or develop long-term affordable housing solutions. Instead, it freezes funding for supervised drug use facilities and favors cities that enforce bans on encampments, drug use, and squatting.
Official data shows that in 2024, the number of homeless individuals in the U.S. surpassed 770,000—an 18% increase—with 36% living on the streets, in vehicles, or makeshift shelters. Experts trace the roots of the crisis back to the 1960s and 1970s when psychiatric institutions were shuttered without adequate investment in community-based care. This has been compounded by a lack of affordable housing, rising poverty rates, and cuts to social programs.