WATCH: Trump Admin Bulldozing Homeless Camps To Clean Up DC

The Trump administration has unleashed a sweeping cleanup operation in Washington, D.C., targeting homeless encampments with heavy machinery—even bulldozers clearing the way. This initiative, part of a broader enforcement push framed as making the capital “safer and more beautiful,” has drawn both support and fierce opposition.

Federal Park Police have removed approximately 75 homeless encampments in the city since March, also cleaning up nearly 80 graffiti sites in areas like Capitol Hill. Enforcement now comes without warning, and even minor property infractions—under $1,000 in damage—can result in fines up to $100,000 or a year in prison.

This sharp escalation ties into the broader federal takeover of D.C. law enforcement. In addition to pushing out homeless encampments, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s directive placed immigration cooperation over local sanctuary policies, and approximately 800 National Guard troops joined the effort to patrol key public areas.

The Trump administration’s strategy combines visible force with threats of legal penalties for noncompliance. Homeless individuals were given minimal notice—sometimes as short as 24 hours—to vacate their sites. Officials offered shelter options but warned that refusal could lead to arrest or fines.

Critics argue this approach fails to address the underlying issues of homelessness. Agencies like Miriam’s Kitchen and the National Homelessness Law Center warn that dismantling camps without expanding permanent housing or supportive services erodes trust and undermines ongoing support networks.

Local officials—including D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau—expressed alarm, saying these tactics disrupt delicate outreach efforts: “When this kind of dramatic action is taken, it erodes the trust we have built with folks living outside and diminishes our ability to bring them into permanent housing.”