Payam Javan: President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on August 25 aimed at dismantling cashless bail systems and tightening law enforcement measures in the nation’s capital. The move follows his earlier federal takeover of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of the National Guard in an effort to curb rising crime. One order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to identify states that allow suspects accused of violent or serious offenses to be released without cash bail and cut off their federal funding.

The second order eliminates cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and seeks to hold defendants in federal custody rather than allow pre-trial release. “This isn’t Republican or Democrat,” Trump said. “We’ve got to bring our country back.” The White House also released a fact sheet describing cashless bail as a “government-backed crime spree,” highlighting high-profile cases in which suspects released without bail committed serious crimes, including murder and repeat assaults.

The debate over cash bail remains deeply divisive. Illinois became the first state to abolish it entirely in 2023, while states such as New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York have restricted it for certain nonviolent offenses. Critics argue that eliminating bail allows dangerous offenders to reoffend, while supporters say the system unfairly penalizes the poor and benefits wealthy suspects who can easily post bail. Trump said he plans to push Congress to codify his orders into law.