President Trump delivers a crushing blow to progressive “catch-and-release” policies by signing executive orders that threaten to strip federal funding from jurisdictions maintaining cashless bail systems.
Story Highlights
- Trump signs executive orders targeting cashless bail policies nationwide with federal funding threats
- Attorney General Pam Bondi tasked with identifying non-compliant jurisdictions for funding cuts
- Washington D.C. declared a “crime emergency” with federal intervention in pretrial detention
- Progressive criminal justice reforms face major federal pushback after years of rising crime concerns
Federal Crackdown on Dangerous Bail Policies
President Trump signed two executive orders on August 25, 2025, directly targeting the failed cashless bail experiment that has plagued American cities for years. The orders direct the Department of Justice to compile lists of jurisdictions that have eliminated cash bail requirements and authorize the federal government to revoke funding from these areas. This represents a long-overdue federal response to policies that have repeatedly allowed dangerous criminals back onto the streets while victims and law-abiding citizens suffer the consequences.
Immediate Threat to Progressive Jurisdictions
Attorney General Pam Bondi now holds the power to identify jurisdictions across America that maintain these reckless cashless bail policies. The Trump administration made clear that federal grants and funding will be withheld from areas that refuse to implement common-sense public safety measures. This financial leverage gives the federal government significant authority to force local Democratic politicians to abandon their failed social experiments that prioritize criminal rights over public safety and victim protection.
Washington D.C. Faces Direct Federal Intervention
The nation’s capital received special attention through a separate executive order declaring a “crime emergency” in Washington D.C. This order specifically directs federal authorities to maximize pretrial detention for suspects deemed threats to public safety. The direct federal intervention in D.C. criminal justice policy sends a strong message that the Trump administration will not tolerate jurisdictions that refuse to protect their citizens from repeat offenders and violent criminals.
Common-Sense Approach to Public Safety
Trump emphasized the straightforward nature of these orders, stating that they ensure federal support only flows to jurisdictions with “reasonable common sense policies around crimes.” This approach recognizes what law enforcement and victims’ advocates have argued for years: that releasing suspects without requiring bail creates dangerous situations for communities. The orders represent a return to traditional American values of accountability and consequence, rather than the misguided progressive ideology that treats criminals as victims of society.
Trump Signs Order Aimed at Eliminating Cashless Bailhttps://t.co/F6pbp4UwWy
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) August 25, 2025
The timing proves crucial as these failed cashless bail policies have contributed to rising crime rates in major cities nationwide. The federal funding mechanism provides an effective tool to force change in jurisdictions where local politicians have ignored their constituents’ safety concerns in favor of radical criminal justice theories that have proven disastrous in practice.
Sources:
ABC News – Trump signs executive orders aimed at eliminating cashless bail
LA Times – Trump targets cashless bail policies
White House – Measures to End Cashless Bail and Enforce the Law in the District of Columbia
