President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders Monday addressing criminal justice policies in Washington, D.C. and other jurisdictions, including moves to eliminate cashless bail and prosecute individuals who desecrate the American flag, according to White House fact sheets obtained by NBC News.
Executive order on cashless bail
One order focuses on Washington, D.C., directing the administration to take action if the city does not revise its longstanding cashless bail policy. Possible measures include reevaluating federal funding, services, or approvals, the White House said.
The order also directs law enforcement to ensure that individuals arrested in D.C. are taken into federal custody “to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law. Attorney General Pam Bondi may also become involved, though specific steps were not outlined.
A second order extends beyond the capital, instructing federal agencies to identify funding that could be suspended or cut in cities across the country that maintain cashless bail systems.
Critics argue that eliminating cash bail disproportionately impacts low-income individuals, while Trump and his allies blame the practice for repeat offenses. Cashless bail is when all of the problems started,” said U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro during a Fox News interview Monday morning.
D.C. has operated under a cashless bail framework since 1992, allowing judges to determine detention based on risk to public safety or flight concerns, rather than requiring financial guarantees.
Executive order on flag desecration
Trump also signed a separate executive order targeting flag desecration, instructing Attorney General Bondi to “vigorously prosecute” such cases and pursue litigation to challenge existing First Amendment protections.
The order includes provisions aimed at noncitizens, directing the administration to deny or revoke visas, residence permits, naturalization proceedings, and other immigration benefits for those involved in desecrating the U.S. flag. However, legal experts note the measure could face significant challenges, as the Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson (1989) that flag burning is protected free speech.
Broader push for control over D.C.
The moves come as part of Trump’s broader campaign to exert greater control over the nation’s capital. Over the weekend, National Guard troops in D.C. began carrying firearms, and Trump threatened similar deployments to Baltimore, Chicago, and New York.
In recent weeks, the administration has also taken steps to clear homeless encampments, restore a Confederate memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, and order reviews of exhibits at Smithsonian museums, which Trump criticized as overly negative about U.S. history.