Trump Plans Executive Order Ending Cashless Bail in DC

President Trump plans to sign an executive order aimed at eliminating cashless bail for arrested suspects in Washington, D.C., marking a significant expansion of his federal takeover of the city's law enforcement. The order could withhold federal funding or government-backed projects from D.C. if it does not end its cashless bail policy and will encourage law enforcement to seek federal custody for arrestees instead of local detention. Trump and his administration argue that cashless bail policies allow dangerous individuals to be released prematurely, posing a threat to public safety, despite analysts noting that crime statistics do not support these claims. The executive order is also part of a broader strategy to target other liberal jurisdictions with similar bail policies by threatening federal funding. Critics of the move contend that cashless bail systems, such as D.C.'s long-standing model, reduce unfair penalties on low-income defendants and have little proven link to increased crime rates. The policy shift reflects Trump's campaign promise to crack down on jurisdictions perceived as lenient on crime by reversing cashless bail measures.