The White House announced Tuesday that individuals living in homeless encampments across Washington, D.C., will be given two options in the coming days — accept treatment and housing in a homeless shelter, or face arrest.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt outlined the policy during a press briefing as reporters questioned President Donald Trump’s recent federal takeover of the District’s law enforcement operations.
She said the crackdown is already well underway, with most encampments cleared and only two remaining on federal park property.
“Seventy homeless encampments have been removed by the U.S. Park Police,” Leavitt said.
She added that the Metropolitan Police Department will now work alongside the Park Police to complete 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.”
When pressed on what options remain for those still living in encampments, Leavitt said, “Homeless shelters, for addiction and mental health services, or jail if they refuse, are the options on the table right now.”
President Trump previously suggested that some encampments could be relocated to areas outside the city.
Leavitt confirmed that the administration is considering the idea but said it is not currently part of the plan.
A review conducted this week by Fox News Digital found that several long-standing gathering spots for the homeless have already been cleared, leaving behind only scattered belongings such as clothing and food containers.
However, other parts of the city — including areas in the downtown core — still had visible homeless populations occupying parks, sidewalks, and busy intersections.
In one downtown park, roughly a dozen individuals remained, surrounded by personal items and tents.
Observers noted a dried red substance splattered on the sidewalk near the encampment, though it was not immediately clear what caused it.
The effort to clear the encampments comes as the administration increases its focus on crime in the nation’s capital.
On Saturday, President Trump said his administration will “essentially, stop violent crime” in Washington, D.C., calling the city “one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world.”
Recent incidents have included violent crimes against federal staffers.
Among them was former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee Edward Coristine, who was targeted in an attempted carjacking.
“We have a capital that’s very unsafe,” Trump said, referencing Coristine’s case.
“You know, we just almost lost a young man, beautiful, handsome guy that got the hell knocked out of him.”
Trump described the city’s crime problem as “out of control,” citing “thugs” and “gang members” who are “randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent citizens.”
The president’s federal law enforcement initiative in D.C. includes increased coordination between federal agencies and local police, expanded patrols in high-crime areas, and the dismantling of encampments in public spaces.
The White House has not provided a timeline for when the relocation or arrest process for remaining encampment residents will be completed, but officials say they expect the last two federal park encampments to be removed within the week.
