Democrats and advocates criticize Trump’s executive order on homelessness
July 25, 2025
Homeless advocates are criticizing an executive order President Donald Trump signed this week to restore order. The executive order aims to “remove vagrant individuals” from city streets and get them into treatment for mental health or drug addiction disorders, even if that means involuntary commitment. Advocates say the executive order is vague, punitive and will do nothing to end homelessness. They say the country abandoned forced institutionalizations decades ago because it was expensive and raised legal and moral issues. The office of Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump’s order a flattering yet “poorly executed” attempt to imitate the governor’s repeated calls to clear encampments.