Former President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order targeting homelessness in the U.S., sparking widespread concern and backlash on social media.
Signed on Thursday, July 24, the executive order directs a push to overturn certain federal and state judicial decisions and dissolve consent decrees that currently hinder the removal of homeless individuals from public areas.
The goal is to place these individuals in treatment facilities, particularly those with mental health conditions who may pose a danger to themselves or others, or who are unable to care for themselves.
The order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue legal pathways to eliminate such judicial barriers, stating:
“Moving homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for compassionate treatment through civil commitment will help restore public safety.
Allowing disorder to take over our streets does not help the homeless or the wider community.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move in an interview with USA TODAY, saying Trump is fulfilling his promise to “Make America Safe Again” and combat homelessness.
“By clearing vagrants from city streets and shifting resources toward addiction recovery and mental health programs, the Trump Administration is ensuring both public safety and support for those who need it most,” she said.
However, the directive has been met with intense crit!cism.
The National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC) condemned the order, labeling it “dangerous.” The group argued that it strips individuals of basic rights without addressing root causes such as unaffordable housing or economic instability.
In a public statement, NHLC said, “This order does nothing to reduce housing costs or improve financial stability. The communities with the lowest crime rates are those that provide sufficient housing and support—not those that criminalize poverty and illness.
Forced institutionalization is unethical, ineffective, and against the law. What people truly need is permanent housing and access to healthcare services.”
NHLC also warned that the order could increase homelessness rather than reduce it, as it diverts funding from essential services and makes grassroots solutions more difficult to implement.
The executive order follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that upheld local laws banning sleeping in public spaces, intensifying debates over the criminalization of homelessness.
Online, reactions have been strong and emotional.
One Reddit user described the policy as “the Republican approach to social issues: hide the problem rather than solve it.”
Another user commented simply, “This is terrifying!” expressing fear about the implications for vulnerable populations.
Overall, Trump’s new directive has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with many arguing that it prioritizes aesthetics and public order over human dignity and long-term solutions.
