President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at addressing homelessness in the United States, which has sparked significant concern on social media.
On Thursday, July 24, Trump signed an order that seeks “the reversal of Federal or State judicial precedents and the termination of consent decrees.” This move is intended to simplify the process for cities to relocate homeless individuals from the streets to treatment centers.
The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to “seek, in appropriate cases, the reversal of Federal or State judicial precedents and the termination of consent decrees that impede the United States’ policy of encouraging civil commitment of individuals with mental illness who pose risks to themselves or the public or are living on the streets and cannot care for themselves in appropriate facilities for appropriate periods of time.”
It further states, “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.”
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed USA TODAY that Trump is committed to “Make America Safe Again” and addressing homelessness nationwide.
“By removing vagrant criminals from our streets and redirecting resources toward substance abuse programs, the Trump Administration will ensure that Americans feel safe in their own communities and that individuals suffering from addiction or mental health struggles are able to get the help they need,” she stated.
However, the executive order has sparked controversy, with the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC) labeling it as “dangerous.”
In their statement, NHLC warned that it could “make homelessness worse” by depriving people of their basic rights.
They further argued that the order does not address the issues of “lowering the cost of housing or helping people make ends meet,” emphasizing, “The safest communities are those with the most housing and resources, not those that make it a crime to be poor or sick.”
“Forced treatment is unethical, ineffective, and illegal. People need stable housing and access to healthcare,” they continued.
NHLC further asserted, “Rather, Trump’s actions will force more people into homelessness, divert taxpayer money away from people in need, and make it harder for local communities to solve homelessness.”
This executive order follows the Supreme Court’s June decision to prohibit people from sleeping rough in public places, as reported by the BBC.
Trump’s latest order has triggered apprehension among social media users.
In a Reddit discussion about the order, one commenter described it as “the republican solution to actual societal problems,” suggesting that it involves “locking people away where the rest of society doesn’t have to see them instead of helping them recover and get better and solve their problems.”
Another user remarked, “This is terrifying!”
UNILAD has reached out to the White House for their response.