D.C. Clears Homeless Encampment Near Kennedy Center Amid Trump’s Safety Push
City crews demolished a homeless encampment near the Kennedy Center on August 14, just three days after President Donald Trump federalized the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployed 800 National Guard troops to combat crime in the capital.
The clearing, reported by Fox 5, gave encampment residents a 24-hour notice to vacate, with city volunteers assisting in packing and providing access to shelter and storage options.
Typically, D.C. mandates a 14-day notice for such actions, but Rebecca Dooley, spokesperson for the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, told the Washington Post that the encampment’s proximity to a highway justified the expedited timeline under municipal regulations. The operation followed Trump’s August 11 Truth Social post, where he declared, “The Homeless have to move out IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.”
Federal and Local Efforts Align
During an August 12 White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed the administration’s approach:
“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.” Leavitt noted that since the March executive order, U.S. Park Police have cleared 70 encampments, with the final two on federal land scheduled for removal this week. The order emphasizes that “America’s capital must be a place in which residents, commuters, and tourists feel safe at all hours, including on public transit.”
Homelessness Challenges Persist
D.C.’s homelessness crisis remains a pressing challenge, with 5,100 individuals—80 per 10,000 residents—classified as homeless, ranking second only to Hawaii’s 80.5 per 10,000, according to recent counts. The city’s high visibility as the nation’s capital amplifies the issue, with encampments near landmarks like the Kennedy Center drawing scrutiny.
The administration cites D.C. Code 22-1307 and municipal regulation 24-100 as legal grounds for the MPD’s authority to clear encampments, supported by the National Guard’s logistical presence.
Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage reported that D.C. has reduced tent numbers by half over two years, expanding shelter beds and housing vouchers. However, advocates like those from the National Low Income Housing Coalition argue that the lack of affordable housing remains the root cause, with rapid clearings potentially displacing vulnerable individuals without addressing long-term needs.
Posts on X reflect mixed sentiment, with some praising Trump’s decisive action for improving safety, while others criticize the short notice as disruptive to the homeless population.
Context of Trump’s Safety Initiative
The Kennedy Center clearing, executed under heightened federal oversight, follows a high-profile August 3 attempted carjacking of a Department of Government Efficiency staffer, which Trump cited as evidence of unchecked crime.
The D.C. Police Union, led by chairman Gregg Pemberton, has endorsed the federal intervention, stating, “Crime is spiraling out of control, and immediate action is necessary.”
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