General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/07/24/trump-homeless-forced-hospitalization-executive-order/Trump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people
Trumps executive order could increase hospitalization of homeless individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.
July 24, 2025 at 5:17 p.m. EDT
By David Ovalle
President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to find ways to make it easier to forcibly hospitalize homeless people with mental illness and addiction for longer periods an effort to fight what the administration calls vagrancy threatening the streets of U.S. cities.
An executive order signed Thursday pushes federal agencies to overturn state and federal legal precedent that limits how local and state governments can involuntarily commit people who pose a risk to themselves or others.
The order said shifting homeless people into long-term institutional settings will restore public order. Surrendering our cities and citizens to disorder and fear is neither compassionate to the homeless nor other citizens, Trumps order said.
The impact of Trumps executive order remains unclear because states set laws and handle the process of involuntary commitments. Critics warned that such a policy threatens returning the nation to a darker era when people were often unjustly locked away in mental health institutions, and does nothing to help people afford housing.
Critics say cash-strapped states will not have the space to keep more people detained. The executive order, however, says federal resources could ensure detainees with serious mental illness are not released into the public because of a lack of bed space in jails or hospitals.
The order also instructs agencies to prioritize funding for mental health and drug courts and to not fund harm reduction programs that the administration said facilitate illegal drug use. It also called for agencies to prioritize funding states and cities that to the maximum extent enforce laws on open-air drug use, prohibitions on urban camping, loitering and squatting.
...
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/ending-crime-and-disorder-on-americas-streets/
ENDING CRIME AND DISORDER ON AMERICAS STREETS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who is going to pay for their hospitalization? Medicaid?

Silent Type
(11,246 posts)people fairly, but I think this could be a good tool for some homeless people in the right circumstances and with decent treatment.
WhiskeyGrinder
(25,729 posts)Forced institutionalization is almost never a good thing.
Silent Type
(11,246 posts)have some degree of mental issues at least requiring treatment, and possibly hospitalization.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2818774
There are definitely better ways to handle this, but its better than letting people suffer on street as we do now. Plus, I dont think anyone is saying they have to be involuntarily institutionalized. Heck, trump will wake up in month and cut funding for treatment.
regnaD kciN
(27,296 posts)...while they build "showers" for those who can't.
Sounds like a pretty effective final solution to the homeless question.
Silent Type
(11,246 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(25,729 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(25,729 posts)I don't know that making people suffer by taking away the last shred of their own autonomy by forcing them into carceral treatment is "better."
kerry-is-my-prez
(10,144 posts)With no place to live, no money, no medication, etc. Many of them were seriously ill, people with schizophrenia. They had to put up with the freezing temperatures.
electric_blue68
(24,010 posts)Melon
(792 posts)Reagan implemented but he did not lead this. The ACLU fought this in court and won which led to closure of federal hospitals.
Beginning in the mid-1970s the ACLU filed a series of lawsuits against mental health hospitals for involuntarily holding patients.
The ACLU's most important Supreme Court case involving the rights of people with mental illness was filed on behalf of Kenneth Donaldson, who had been involuntarily confined in a Florida State Hospital for 15 years. He was not dangerous and had received no medical treatment. In a landmark decision for mental health law in 1975, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that states cannot confine a non-dangerous individual who can survive on his own, or with help from family and friends.
https://www.aclu.org/other/aclu-history-mental-institutions
Bluesaph
(981 posts)I have had to deal with very mentally ill family members who dont know they are ill and would not allow themselves to be hospitalized. Two went missing while being homeless. They simply walked away not knowing what they were doing. One is now dead of an overdose. The second we are always expecting to get that call. Many family members have tried to help. But they are so sick they dont think they need help and they dont follow rules and put others (children in our homes) at risk.
Being able to force them into a hospital and treatment would have probably saved their lives.
leftstreet
(37,363 posts)There are people in houses and apartments right now who may have substance abuse issues - is he going to round them up too?
Fuck me
LisaL
(47,326 posts)hospitalize homeless people who presumably don't have medical insurance?
Maru Kitteh
(30,704 posts)get to make all of the money? Just call them hospitals and you can charge taxpayers some real Musk money.
dalton99a
(90,390 posts)Could be a bunch of tents in the desert
lostnfound
(17,206 posts)Initech
(106,395 posts)The Heritage Foundation needs to be permanently banned from the White House.
Melon
(792 posts)Many cities have become scary with mentally ill homeless. New York subway, Las Vegas strip, Denver 16th street. Just examples where Ive seen violence from mentally ill people. Reagan ended the authorities ability to put people in hospitals.
electric_blue68
(24,010 posts)Melon
(792 posts)And federal funding to get violent individuals off the street. This has been a topic for years needing to get done and getting addicts treatments and violent offenders off the streets. Outside of the president, I see nothing to get upset about. Some leader needed to get this done.
electric_blue68
(24,010 posts)Last edited Fri Jul 25, 2025, 07:21 PM - Edit history (1)
I'm for violent people being off the streets w or w/o mental illness! (duh)
Now if they genuinely put them in real hospitals...and they're violent - so, rhen what; more security? Drugged up into a harmless stupored haze, a sep wing; I guess that's sort of better.
AND what is really needed are freaking better psychotropics; with minimal side-effects! This is stuff I've read about off & on. (I've always read about a lot of different subjects) Some people won't take them, or stop bc the side effects are so nasty.
Housing with full on-site services whether for MI clients alone, or with co-something (I forgot the term) ie: drugs; is usually the best result for most challenging clients. Maaaaybe the worst need a separate jail sector within a jail/prison- but genuinely good staffing, serious but if at all possible fair protocols, and medications to diminish their aviolent actions. [there by the *grace of God, go you and I, as it is said] *luck, good genes, good circumstances, etc.
I lived on a mostly middle class block in Brooklyn with a dedicated drug-rehab housing. It was women for some years, then men for the next several. Then I moved. Never had a problem.
As for NYC subways. Been riding steadily for about 58 yrs. Haven't been on in a year or so, but planning to go certain places soonish. The stats are are still low crime rates even if some rise.
I'm not scared. I do keep an eye out. Shoot, I was riding the subway F/T in the ?late 80'a or so, when The NY Post "declared" that crime was everywhere(!!!) underground. 😑🙄
I drew a sarcastic illustration w subway riders waiting on a platform, and a bunch of criminals, forearms hands clutching knives reaching for a "take a number" device like in a supermarket deli.
And I was riding late at night, too, at times. No problem. At night you ride in the conductors car. 👍
IzzaNuDay
(1,146 posts)First they came for the immigrants. Now, the homeless. whos next in line?
peggysue2
(12,187 posts)This is an escalation of clearing out 'undesirables'--first the immigrants, now the homeless, then . . .
We've seen this picture show before and the end point is ugly, inhumane, despicable.
Heidi
(58,834 posts)And by that I mean the most vulnerable.
ananda
(33,303 posts)in many areas?
So the question is: really?
What hospitals exactly?
Bettie
(18,897 posts)family members with mental health issues...finding services for them, especially inpatient is very difficult, nearly impossible.
The system is already overburdened.
Why do I sense Stephen Miller's hand in this and it won't end with most of these people ever leaving any facility alive.
ananda
(33,303 posts)insanely wants to house in hospitals...
Trump and his whole admin are batshit crazy
and homicidal to boot... and also genocidal.
Melon
(792 posts)Mental health facilities. The answer isnt to leave these people on the street to die or attack others.
Bettie
(18,897 posts)Where are hospitals going to get the personnel?
If you trust this administration to make it work, that's great that you have faith in them.
I don't.
I expect this to be a disaster of epic proportion.
Melon
(792 posts)Is to wait another 6 years for something or nothing to happen. This is low hanging fruit every 4 years and weve spoken about it here on DU.
Dont let perfection be the enemy of good. There is plenty of things to criticize in the world right now. Allocating federal funds to get violent homeless or addicted homeless treatment doesnt seem like one of them to me.
Bettie
(18,897 posts)in their "immigration" policy? Sure. If you trust it, that's great.
I don't and neither of us has the power to stop it or make it happen, so it's academic until we see how it is done.
I expect that the people will never be seen or heard from again, once they are removed from society.
Some people think that is a good thing, I don't.
Melon
(792 posts)But to be clear, there are people on our streets that are flat out dangerous. All of the homeless are not sweet and down in their luck. Was it last year a lady was lit on fire in a subway? Some people need to be locked away for our protection. Well see how it goes, but its not good now.
MineralMan
(149,795 posts)There aren't any today. There is also nobody to staff such facilities. We shut down all facilities of that type long ago.
So, this is an idea that can go nowhere.
travelingthrulife
(3,344 posts)I expect the 'hospital' will look just like the concentration camp tents.
Heidi
(58,834 posts)The patients (i.e. prisoners) wont get better or enjoy improved health, but out of sight, out of mind, right?
Passages
(3,633 posts)I despise this man more than I can say.
indusurb
(263 posts)Imprisonment for being poor.
dalton99a
(90,390 posts)obamanut2012
(28,842 posts)Reread the EO. Look for the "ors."
bucolic_frolic
(52,461 posts)multigraincracker
(36,337 posts)We had large state hospitals that failed and were emptied and left to rot. Going to do it all again with the same results?
So, my question is, is there a model that works that we can copy?
WhiskeyGrinder
(25,729 posts)tailored support services is generally seen as the gold standard for ending homelessness for the mentally ill or addicted.
Melon
(792 posts)Is what we deal with in cities like San Fran. There needs to be a balance, but authorities need the ability to check mentally ill people into centers and get them off the streets.
IrishAfricanAmerican
(4,326 posts)orangecrush
(26,782 posts)ICE will round them up.
Slave labor.
EndlessWire
(8,103 posts)who wanted them cleared from DC because he didn't want to have to look at them? I don't see any charity in this, although they would have to at least feed them. This is going to backfire on the Orange Pedophile, for sure.