Trump Implements Anti-Homelessness Procedures

On Friday, August 15, 2025, police officers under federal oversight cleared several homeless encampments across Washington, D.C., as part of President Trump’s broader effort to assert control over policing in the nation’s capital. The sweeps targeted at least three sites, including Washington Circle, where some of the city’s most vulnerable residents had been living for months.

According to Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center and eyewitnesses, officers began clearing camps late Thursday and continued into Friday morning. Tents, sleeping bags, and personal belongings were reportedly thrown into the trash. Organizations that support unhoused residents braced for additional sweeps later that day.

In some cases, the removals appeared to violate city health department notices that allowed residents to remain for several more days. Meghann Abraham, 34, had been living in a tent near George Washington University Hospital. She said she showed officers a city-issued notice granting her until Monday to leave. “This time, the officers scoffed at the notice,” Abraham said. Her shelter was taken anyway.

David Barnes returned to Washington Circle to find his tent missing and his possessions thrown away. “This is the second time my shelter’s been trashed under Trump,” he said. Still, Barnes voiced support for the president, saying he appreciated Trump’s push to “keep the city looking good.”

The Metropolitan Police Department, now under federal oversight, has become a lightning rod for criticism. Advocacy groups condemned the forceful removal of encampments, and by midday Friday, protesters had gathered outside MPD headquarters in Judiciary Square, waving signs that read “We do not consent” and “Resist!”

The sweep reflects deeper tensions over federal control of local institutions. Detractors argue that the actions disregard basic rights and due process for unhoused residents. At the same time, supporters contend that the cleanup is part of a broader effort to restore order and improve public spaces.

As the situation continues to unfold, the debate intensifies over how far federal authority should reach—and whether those already living on the margins are being pushed further out.

Sources:

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