Trump signs executive order eliminating cashless bail for DC suspects

Trump administration says they uncovered DC police allegedly had some homicides documented as accidents

While President Donald Trump was signing executive orders, his administration said they uncovered DC police allegedly had some homicides documented as accidents.

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday eliminating cashless bail for suspects arrested in Washington, D.C., according to a White House official.

FOX News also confirmed that Trump is set to sign a second order aimed at ending cash bail nationwide and would potentially threaten to withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that continue.

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"Crime in American Cities started to significantly rise when they went to CASHLESS BAIL," Trump said in a Truth Social post in July. "The WORST criminals are flooding our streets and endangering even our great law enforcement officers. It is a complete disaster, and must be ended, IMMEDIATELY!"

The other side:

The president says this latest executive order builds on his law enforcement crackdown — but critics argue it reinstalls a two-tier system between those who can afford bail and those who cannot.

Cashless bail allows judges to release defendants without requiring money up front. Instead, risk evaluations are used to determine whether someone is a flight risk or a danger to the community. That system is now ending in D.C.

D.C. attorney David Benowitz says wealthier defendants will still be able to buy their way out, while low-income residents remain behind bars.

"It is going to adversely affect people who might be held because they are too poor to pay the bail. On more violent offenses it might make it easier, but on lesser offenses, it will hurt the poor," said Benowitz.