On July 24, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at addressing the homelessness crisis by mandating the relocation of homeless individuals into treatment centers.

The order emphasizes public safety concerns, claiming that 'endemic vagrancy' poses risks to citizens, and seeks a new approach prioritizing humane treatment.

Titled 'Ending Vagrancy and Restoring Order,' the executive order instructs the Attorney General to overturn judicial precedents that restrict local authorities from relocating homeless individuals.

Under this initiative, federal grants will favor cities enforcing bans on public camping and drug use, while blocking funding for supervised drug-use sites.

Critics argue that the order could criminalize homelessness by removing individuals from the streets without providing guaranteed housing solutions.

The American Civil Liberties Union reported that over 320 bills criminalizing homelessness have been introduced across the U.S., reflecting a bipartisan approach to the issue.

Despite a rise in involuntary commitments, the proposed changes may focus more on removing unhoused individuals from public view rather than providing proper care.

Recent legislative changes in states like Oregon and California show a trend towards expanding involuntary commitment laws to address mental health and addiction issues more aggressively.

The homelessness crisis has intensified, with over 770,000 people experiencing homelessness, the highest number recorded.

Trump criticized previous spending on ineffective homelessness programs, claiming they failed to address root causes and left citizens vulnerable.

Critics, including former officials, express concern that the order could regress mental health treatment to outdated practices of institutionalization.

The executive order was issued amid significant cuts to mental health and substance abuse funding, raising concerns about the lack of effective solutions for homelessness.