"We will do what we can to help them": D.C. on clearing homeless encampments amid Trump takeover
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A man moves his belongings out of an encampment Thursday in Foggy Bottom. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
The homeless community remains on edge amid President Trump's federal takeover of D.C. and threats to remove encampments.
The latest: A slew of anticipated federal sweeps encampments didn't pan out Thursday night.
- Secret Service, FBI and other federal agents arrived at Washington Circle Thursday to clear tents, but retreated when a resident produced a letter from the District stating that the encampment didn't need to be cleared until Monday.
State of play: The city itself is working to help people move from tents. Earlier Thursday officials cleared an encampment near the Kennedy Center.
- A spokesperson for the city's deputy mayor for Health and Human Services told Axios the District "worked proactively" ahead of the expected federal sweeps so it could connect people to social services.
- Officials have said they're working to provide additional shelter space, and that no one impacted by the clearings would be turned away.
What they're saying: Thursday was the first time the FBI had tried to clear encampments in the District, said Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor for D.C. Health and Human Services.
- "It's never been a federal operation," said Turnage. "It's always been District government. We will do what we can to help them," he added, referring to residents of encampments.
- The Trump administration is seeking to "finish the encampment part of this process in a week or so," Turnage told WUSA9.
Catch up quick: Earlier in the week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned of prosecution or fines against people who refuse to leave encampments.
- Leavitt said homeless individuals will be offered transportation to shelters or provided with mental health and addiction resources.
- Leavitt said Trump's proposal to remove homeless people far from D.C. is "not off" and is being explored.
Government agencies have partnered with the Washington VA Medical Center to provide resources to homeless veterans moved from the encampments, a White House official tells Axios.
The other side: Advocates say forced removals could have detrimental impacts on homeless individuals, and that Trump's directives are murky and leave little information for next steps in a city with limited shelter space.
Zoom out: 70 encampments have been cleared since March as part of Trump's directives outlined in his executive order targeted at making D.C. "safe and beautiful," according to Leavitt.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new developments.