OR ELSE? –
July 24, 2025 Trump instructed federal agencies to determine methods to forcibly put homeless people dealing with mental illness or drug addiction into treatment centers for longer periods, while gutting existing harm reduction programs. – Civil rights organizations warned that Trump’s order would upend decades of legal precedent and would strip thousands of Americans of key civil right.
“Endemic vagrancy, disorderly behavior, sudden confrontations and violent attacks have made our cities unsafe,” Trump wrote. “Shifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment will restore public order. Surrendering our cities and citizens to disorder and fear is neither compassionate to the homeless nor other citizens.”
The American Civil Liberties Union slammed the order Thursday, warning it would effectively criminalize homelessness, eliminate funding for effective programs and increase profiling for people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues.
