President Donald Trump has unveiled a plan to forcibly relocate homeless individuals from Washington, D.C., and expand the presence of federal law enforcement in the nation’s capital. The initiative, announced Sunday, is part of what the White House describes as a broader effort to address urban crime and restore “order” in the city.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “The homeless have to move out immediately. We will give you places to stay, but far from the capital.” He added, “The criminals — we’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
The statement comes amid a recent increase in federal law enforcement activity in the district, ordered by the White House earlier this month.
A U.S. administration official told reporters that the plan may involve deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to enforce the relocation. In the District of Columbia, unlike in states, the president has direct authority to mobilize the Guard without gubernatorial approval. Officials say the exact number of personnel and their roles have not been finalized.
The White House has not clarified the legal grounds for removing homeless individuals from public areas, noting that federal jurisdiction extends only to federal property within the city. Exercising broader authority over the district would require congressional action to amend or repeal the Home Rule Act.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser disputed the premise of a crime surge. She cited official statistics showing that violent crime in the city has fallen by 26% since the start of 2025, while overall crime is down 7%. Bowser said, “We are not experiencing a spike in crime,” calling comparisons to war-zone conditions “exaggerated and false.”
Hours after Trump’s announcement, the FBI confirmed it is participating in the expanded federal presence in the city. The White House claims that the president’s directives — alongside a recent executive order easing the process of removing homeless encampments — have already reduced the visible presence of weapons and drugs on city streets. Critics say these reports are anecdotal and lack independent verification.
The plan marks a significant shift in federal policy toward homelessness and urban crime, particularly in politically symbolic areas such as the nation’s capital. The initiative is expected to face legal challenges, civil rights scrutiny, and potential congressional debate over the federal role in managing Washington, D.C.
