The White House says those living in homeless encampments in the nation’s capital will have two choices in the coming days: accept treatment at a homeless shelter, or go to jail.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the ultimatum during a Tuesday press conference as reporters prodded about President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s law enforcement. She said many of the homeless encampments across the city have already been dismantled, and those that remain she expected to be dealt with this week.
“Seventy homeless encampments have been removed by the U.S. Park Police,” Leavitt said, adding that the Metropolitan Police Department would be joining the Park Police in the effort. “There are only two homeless encampments remaining in D.C. federal parks under the National Park Service’s jurisdiction, and the removal of those two remaining camps is scheduled for this week.”
Asked about what options are available to those in homeless encampments, Leavitt was blunt: “homeless shelters, for addiction and mental health services, or jail if they refuse, are the options on the table right now.”
Trump has repeatedly characterized Washington, D.C., as “one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world.” On Saturday, Trump said his administration will “essentially, stop violent crime” in the nation’s capital.
Members of the National Guard facilitate entries at the staging area of local and federal law enforcement agencies inside the U.S. Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility on Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Craig Hudson For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The renewed focus follows a series of violent incidents in the city, some involving federal staffers, including a high-profile former employee from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who was a victim of an attempted carjacking.
“We have a capital that’s very unsafe, you know, we just almost lost a young man, beautiful, handsome guy that got the hell knocked out of him,” Trump said, referencing former DOGE employee Edward Coristine.
The president described crime in D.C. as “out of control,” with young “thugs” and “gang members” who are “randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent citizens.”
