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Marking the one-year anniversary of his second term on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, President Trump appeared at a White House press briefing to announce he has signed a major executive order to bring back mental institutions and insane asylums. The move aims to clear the streets of the "severely mentally ill" and restore public order to America's cities.
During the briefing, the President shared a nostalgic story of walking to Little League practice in Queens with his mother. He recalled asking her about the bars over the windows of a nearby psychiatric hospital, to which she explained that "very sick" people lived there. Trump stated that while building these "suckers" is a tough necessity, it is the only way to effectively "get the people off the streets".
The "Ending Crime and Disorder" Mandate
The executive order, titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets,” represents a massive shift away from decades of deinstitutionalization:
Restoring Civil Commitment: The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the reversal of judicial precedents that currently limit involuntary civil commitments for those who pose a risk to themselves or the public.
Shifting to Institutions: The administration is moving away from "Housing First" models, instead prioritizing funding for states that utilize long-term institutional settings for humane treatment.
Expanding Bed Capacity: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been directed to reallocate funds toward inpatient stabilization, addressing a national shortage of thousands of psychiatric beds.
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT): The order also promotes court-ordered outpatient care to reduce arrests and homelessness among the seriously mentally ill.