You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here…
The White House says residents of homeless encampments in the nation’s capital will have two options in the coming days: accept treatment at a shelter or go to jail.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered the ultimatum Tuesday as reporters pressed about President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s law enforcement. She said many encampments have already been dismantled, with the rest slated for removal this week.
“Seventy homeless encampments have been removed by the U.S. Park Police,” Leavitt said, noting that the Metropolitan Police Department will join 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.”
Karoline Leavitt: “Homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services, and if they refuse they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time.” pic.twitter.com/uA5x3tkTlt
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 12, 2025
From Fox News:
Trump himself had floated the idea of relocating homeless encampments to locations well outside the city. Leavitt confirmed the administration is “exploring” the option, but said it is not yet on the table.
A tour by Fox News Digital found that many former hotspots for the homeless have been cleared, with only abandoned clothing and scattered food containers left behind as signs of recent life as of this week.
In other parts of the city — including the heart of downtown — the homeless population continued to stake out places to sleep and gather in parks or on busy street corners.
At one park, about a dozen people were clustered together with their belongings and a few tents, seemingly unaware of the new crackdown. A dried red substance was splattered across the sidewalk outside their makeshift encampment.
More over at Fox News:
Homeless people in DC have 2 choices as Trump admin cracks down https://t.co/rtUFawUYhZ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 13, 2025
