Trump Administration Issues Order Expanding Involuntary Homelessness Institutionalization Amid Rising U.S. Homelessness

In July 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled 'Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets,' which directs federal agencies to support increased enforcement actions against homelessness, including the expanded use of involuntary civil commitment for individuals experiencing mental illness or substance use disorders. This policy marks a shift away from bipartisan "housing first" approaches, instead conditioning housing on sobriety and treatment participation, and incentivizing jurisdictions to criminalize public camping and other behaviors associated with homelessness. Critics argue the order criminalizes poverty and homelessness, likening it to authoritarian tactics, while ignoring root causes such as unaffordable housing and systemic failures. The order also empowers Attorney General Pam Bondi to challenge judicial precedents limiting involuntary institutionalization and to facilitate the removal of encampments deemed a public safety risk. Meanwhile, local governments, including Boulder City, Nevada, have enacted or expanded anti-camping ordinances that criminalize homelessness, often without providing sufficient shelter alternatives, leading to legal challenges. Overall, the administration's approach has sparked widespread condemnation for prioritizing punitive measures over addressing the underlying economic and social factors driving homelessness.