President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order outlining a new federal framework to support local crackdowns on public encampments, open drug use, and vagrancy. “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets” prioritizes federal support for cities that adopt stricter enforcement measures and civil commitment programs for the mentally ill and addicted.
The executive order directly targets urban camping and street disorder, calling for an alignment of federal and local efforts to reduce crime and vagrancy in public spaces. In particular, it encourages civil commitment for individuals with severe mental illness or substance use disorders who pose a risk to themselves or others, a measure that would mandate treatment rather than relying on voluntary services.
Federal grant funding under the new policy will now prioritize jurisdictions that enforce bans on public camping, restrict drug use in public areas, and actively address what the order describes as “urban disorder.” The White House said the policy reflects a “common-sense” approach to restoring safety in American communities and addressing root causes of the homelessness crisis, including untreated mental illness and drug addiction.
While the executive order does not specify funding levels or implementation deadlines, it puts the onus on federal agencies to coordinate with cities and states in developing enforcement strategies and programmatic support.
The announcement comes as Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, continues to grapple with a growing vagrancy crisis.
Despite increased shelter capacity and tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding, large encampments persist across public spaces, and the fire department has linked several recent wildfires to vagrant camps in wooded areas. Earlier this month, Anchorage police responded to gunfire at an encampment near Mulcahy Stadium, raising further concerns about escalating risks.
Anchorage’s own new anti-camping ordinance, which prohibits overnight camping on public property when shelter space is available, aligns with the federal priorities outlined in the executive order. However, enforcement remains inconsistent.
The Trump administration’s policy signals stronger federal backing for cities that move aggressively to enforce such ordinances. The initiative may also pressure municipalities such as Seattle and Portland that have resisted such measures to revisit their approach or risk losing federal support. Most certainly, these cities will file lawsuits. Already, the attorney general of Washington State has filed 29 lawsuits against Trump.
The administration has argued that mandatory treatment is a necessary tool when voluntary outreach fails and communities face ongoing threats from encampment-related violence, fires, and health crises.
While the long-term impact of the executive order is uncertain, its immediate effect is to place federal influence and taxpayer funding squarely behind cities that pursue aggressive policies to clear public spaces and address homelessness through enforcement and treatment.
The order does not override existing state laws but signals a shift in federal posture that may influence future legislation, funding priorities, and public policy debates across the country.
Come on, Anchorage, get with the program! You were once an All-American City and a good place to live and thrive. Now, under leftist Democrat rule you are rotting away. I know deep down, as a community, you are better than your present state of affairs. Receive Trump’s extended hand and turn this mess around for the betterment of all.
Anchorage is a “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” city. The majority (in reality the minority with the biggest mouths) of people actually voting in Anchorage are communists er- democrats. The silent majority does not vote or is pessimistic about voting with the excuse “my vote doesn’t count”. Social decay and high taxation will continue as long as the silent majority does nothing. With the scamdemic, it proved beyond a shadow of doubt to what city government will do to it’s own citizens under the guise of “for your safety”.
The “fair” housing act needs repealed. It violates the 4th amendment. Abolish HUD also.
The state of Alaska is in deep kimshi!!!!!
Anchorage has allowed itself to become a hovel. Liberal run cities imagine that! I pray this cleans up the parks and other public places that have been over run with dangerous thugs who clearly like living like that. Get rid of ALL of them! Pretty sure they all have criminal records! Go Trump!
Once the party of limited government, now the party of federalism and autocratic control. It is almost like your arguments shift to fit the aspiration to power and control and once attained you have no other values except retaining that power. The vail of civil discourse and embrace of democracy is a fraud.
It’ll be interesting to see what bs LaFrance and Constant come up with to try to get to the fed money.
It’ll be interesting to see what bs Lafrance and Contant come up with to try to get to the fed money.
What would it take to have adequate mental health facilities? We seem to be short on those across the country. I remember when we weren’t, but I also remember hearing horror stories about some of them. Instead of resolving that, we seem to have just stopped having enough adequate mental health facilities.
I wonder if some type of program could be set up to train drug treatment counselors in the field of mental health (if they so wish) so that WHEN (being optimistic) we are able to detox more of our citizens, they would have another avenue of employment and society would have more mental health treatment professionals.
Behind the lax enforcement is false charity, covering leadership which hasn’t the courage to take serious action. If any of us saw a person who fell and was injured, we’d call 911. How is it different, when we see other humans degraded to the lowest possible point by drugs or mental illness- dying on our streets? Leadership: take action: get these people the help they really need!
With Trump’s help and BBB, Anchorage could possibly become the All-American City that it was once known as. Democrats destroyed that hard earned title.
The Anchorage municipal administration and assembly will take advantage of this only when and where they can personally profit from it. Otherwise, welcome to Anchorage, the All American Sh_thole.
Of course the City of Anchorage will RESIST! this, because: Trump.
God Bless DJT. I can’t wait to vote for him a 4th time.
No one has talked common sense like this since Eisenhower.
ALL the way back to 1963; finally someone emerges in Wash DC that “tells it like it is” (as the hippies used to say ….lol)
It is proven folly to expect the Fertilization President to keep his word.
What ever happened to API (the Alaska Psychiatric Institute)?