President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order today that would crack down on cashless bail policies across the country by threatening to revoke federal funding from states and cities that continue to release suspects without requiring bond, according to The New York Post.
The decision delivers on a major campaign promise to curb soft-on-crime policies that allow repeat offenders to return to the streets before trial. The administration argues that no-cash-bail policies jeopardize public safety and waste law enforcement resources.
“Cashless bail policies allow dangerous individuals to immediately return to the streets and further endanger law-abiding, hard-working Americans because they know our laws will not be enforced,” a White House memo on the executive action states.
Federal Funding on the Line
The order will direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to compile a list of no-cash-bail jurisdictions that could include entire states—like New York, New Jersey, and Illinois—and major cities such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago. These jurisdictions could face the loss of federal law enforcement grants and other federal funding streams unless they reverse or amend their bail reform policies.
“Every place in the country where you have no-cash bail is a disaster,” Trump said earlier this month. “We’re not going to keep subsidizing lawlessness.”
Bail Reform Under Fire
Critics of no-cash-bail argue the policy has led to an uptick in violent crime, with numerous high-profile cases of suspects—some accused of serious felonies—being released without posting bond, only to commit additional offenses.
- In Greenwich Village, two convicted killers were reportedly released without bond earlier this month after being arrested for drug distribution.
- A suspected Tren de Aragua gang member was freed without bail in New York after an attempted homicide charge, only to be rearrested in a Miami drug bust weeks later—and again released.
- A prolific New York City pickpocket was arrested 45 times as of early 2024 and remains free under current bail guidelines.
The White House cited a study from Yolo County, California, that found crime rates jumped 163% after implementing a “zero-bail” policy.
Divided Views on Bail Reform
While progressive lawmakers and criminal justice advocates support bail reform as a way to prevent discrimination against low-income defendants, the policy has divided even Democratic leaders in some blue states.
- In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have criticized the effects of the 2019 bail reform law, which eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.
- Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now running for New York City mayor, supported the original law, alongside his left-wing opponent Zohran Mamdani.
Trump’s order comes amid growing efforts to tap into growing frustrations on increasing crime and declining public safety, highlighting the Democrats as weakness on the issue.
Legal and Political Implications
This executive order could face challenges from progressive groups, local officials, and legal scholars who argue that pretrial detention policies should be determined by state legislatures and local courts—not the federal government.
Still, Trump is betting on a strong political message that his administration stands on the side of crime victims, law enforcement, and working families who bear the brunt of rising crime.
“This is about restoring accountability and keeping our neighborhoods safe,” a senior White House official said. “If local governments won’t act, the federal government will.”
Broader Crackdown on Left-Wing Jurisdictions
This action builds on Trump’s broader effort to strip funding from jurisdictions that, in the administration’s view, are not aligned with federal law enforcement priorities.
“Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, the DOJ is committed to ensuring its resources are spent on arresting criminals, getting drugs off the streets, and litigation that protects American communities,” a DOJ spokesman said.
As the 2026 midterms draw near, the administration is signaling that crime, bail, and law enforcement will remain at the forefront of its campaign messaging. With today’s executive order, Trump is making clear that he intends to use every lever of executive power to shift the national conversation—and potentially the legal landscape—on crime and justice.
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Seijah Drake was born in Boston, MA, where she developed a penchant for writing early on and a passion for politics in college. After college she worked briefly for a conservative media in New York before relocating to the Greater D.C. Area to pursue a career in political marketing. She now resides in the free state of Florida.
