Trump pushes for DC evictions

Trump calls for unhoused residents to vacate the capital or face eviction, promising to deploy federal officers

Trump orders homeless residents to leave Washington DC

President Donald Trump used Truth Social on Sunday to demand that homeless residents depart Washington DC immediately, saying cities will be provided with places to stay far from the capital and that federal officers would be used to enforce eviction and jail criminals. He wrote, The Homeless have to move out IMMEDIATELY and added that a Monday news conference will address ending crime in the city. The post appeared as he headed to his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, and was paired with photos from his motorcade route.

City officials and homelessness advocates pushed back against the rhetoric. Data from local agencies show about 800 unsheltered people sleep outdoors on any given night in DC, with thousands more in shelters or transitional housing. Mayor Muriel Bowser said there is no crime spike in the city and pointed to long-term declines in violent crime, noting the annual data showing a 35% drop in 2024 from 2023 and another year-to-date improvement. The White House did not explain what legal authority would enable evictions of people from the city, and lawmakers in Congress retain budget and oversight powers over the district. The district’s Home Rule Act gives DC control over day-to-day governance, complicating any move to federalize city operations. The Free DC movement announced a protest to coincide with Trump’s planned events.

The episode highlights a broader clash between federal power and local self-rule. Trump’s stance reframes homelessness as a security and sovereignty issue rather than a housing policy challenge, aiming to shift responsibility away from city leaders. But data and local officials have repeatedly shown that DC is not facing an emergency; crime is down from recent years and homelessness remains primarily a housing crisis rather than a street menace. The move risks legal battles and political backlash, and it could deepen tensions between a federal agenda and residents who fear displacement. The moment also tests how housing policy becomes a national political stage, with consequences for other cities facing similar debates about governance and resources.

Highlights

The capital’s status will continue to unfold as legal questions and political reactions shape the debate.