President Trump on Monday is expected to sign an executive order aimed at ending cashless bail policies in places like Washington, D.C., his latest effort to use the power of the federal government to exert pressure over liberal jurisdictions.
A White House official confirmed Trump would sign an order that threatens to revoke federal funding for cities and states that have cashless bail policies.
Trump earlier this month railed against cashless bail during a press conference where he announced plans to federalize the D.C. police department and deploy the National Guard around the city.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a staunch Trump ally, said she would lead legislation seeking to outlaw cashless bail policies.
Axios first reported on Trump’s planned executive order.
Washington, D.C., moved away from cash bail decades ago. Illinois has eliminated cash bail entirely, and states like New York and New Jersey have moved away from cash bail for certain offenses.
Proponents of the policy argue cash bail disproportionately harms low-income offenders who cannot afford to post bond. Trump and other critics have argued cashless bail policies allow offenders to end up back on the streets.
Trump has ramped up threats to get involved in cracking down on crime outside the nation’s capital in recent days, telling reporters on Friday that Chicago would be his next target.
But unlike in Washington, D.C., where the federal government has more authority, Trump cannot take control of another city’s police department. State and local officials have also pushed back on threats to send in the National Guard.
