President Donald Trump is taking direct aim at cashless bail. Today, he signed an executive order that threatens to cut off federal funding to cities and states that let suspects walk free without posting bail.
At the White House, Trump made his message clear: “Cashless bail, we’re ending it. But we’re starting by ending it in D.C., and that we have the right to do through federalization.”
The order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to create a list of jurisdictions with cashless bail such as New York City and Chicago, and recommend areas where federal funding may be blocked. In Washington, D.C., Trump went even further—ordering that suspects face federal charges and be held in federal custody instead of being released under local bail rules.
Supporters of the move say it’s about restoring accountability and reducing repeat crimes. Critics argue it unfairly punishes low-income people and rolls back reforms meant to make the justice system more equitable.
Either way, the fight over bail reform just jumped from statehouses to the national stage—and Trump is betting big that voters want stricter rules.
