President Donald Trump has signed an executive order allowing cities to dismantle homeless encampments and move people into treatment centers. The White House says the policy will restore safety and dignity, while critics call it unconstitutional and harmful.

The order empowers Attorney General Pam Bondi to override legal limits that previously restricted cities from relocating homeless populations. It also directs federal agencies to speed funding for areas cracking down on drug use and street camps. Trump defended the move, saying tents near the White House and other public spaces send “the wrong message” to foreign leaders.

Supporters argue the order provides care and protection, noting provisions to track sex offenders in homeless populations. But advocacy groups, including the National Coalition for the Homeless, say it criminalizes poverty and ignores evidence that housing-first strategies are more effective.

The policy comes after a Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to fine people for sleeping outside, encouraging stricter enforcement nationwide.

Homelessness in the U.S. hit a record 770,000 people in 2024, an 18% increase from the year before. Whether Trump’s approach reduces the crisis—or simply moves it out of sight—remains uncertain.