What we know so far about Donald Trump’s order to remove homeless people in DC
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump shared a post on Truth Social aimed at homeless people in Washington DC.
POTUS wrote: "I’m going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY."
He went on to say that alternative places to stay would be provided but 'FAR from the Capital'.
He continued: "The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong. It’s all going to happen very fast, just like the Border."
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The President continued: "We went from millions pouring in, to ZERO in the last few months. This will be easier — Be prepared! There will be no 'MR. NICE GUY.' We want our Capital BACK.
"Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
On Monday, he announced the National Guard would be 'removing homeless encampments from all over our parks' to 'rescue' Washington 'from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse'.
Here's everything we know so far about the situation.
What has been happening to homeless encampments?
Earlier this year, U.S. Park Police started removing homeless encampments, giving the people in them the above mentioned options.
According to PBS, in the last five months, some 70 homeless encampments have been removed.
Leavitt said that as of Tuesday, only two homeless encampments remain in the district parks maintained by the National Park Service.
She also advised they will be removed this week.
How many homeless people are there in the capital?
Exact figures haven't been given, however every year in January, a count is done to try and calculate how many people are in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or homeless.
Earlier this year, the January 2025 count said there were 5,138 adults and children. According to Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser, that's a 9% decrease compared to last year
Deputy Mayor for health and human services, Wayne Turnage, said: "This figure incorporates all people who reside in emergency shelter, transitional housing, domestic violence shelters, runaway youth shelters, safe havens or are otherwise without stable housing."
Turnage insists the city has enough space in shelters 'for anyone who wants to come inside', with around 1,100 beds across the adult system, but 'the District can increase that capacity as needed.'
Where would people be moved to?
Trump's post on Truth Social said that somewhere else would be provided 'FAR from the Capital', but no further details were given.
A journalist at the White House press conference asked earlier today for more details about where homeless people would be relocated. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not give a direct answer.
She said local police and federal agencies would 'enforce the laws that are already on the books,' which have until now, she says 'been completely ignored'.
Leavitt also referred to city legislation which gives officials 'the authority to take action when it comes to homeless encampments'.
She said people 'will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services'.
However, she added that anyone who refuses this 'will be susceptible to fines or to jail time'.
According to NBC News, another journalist asked about the 'FAR away' comment, to which Leavitt replied: We’re exploring how we could do that. But again, homeless shelters, [being] offered addiction and mental health services, or jail if they refuse are the options on the table right now.”
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Jen Thomas