After criticizing California over homeless numbers, Trump won't give the state any money to fight the crisis

President Trump on Tuesday said that when it comes to the issue of homelessness in California, the government will "be doing something about it at the appropriate time." The time must not be now, and the plan must not involve money, as the state's requests for federal help were rejected by Trump and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Wednesday.

In a letter sent to Trump earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and several mayors asked for federal help to get more people off the streets immediately and into housing. Carson responded by sending his own letter — written, he said, at the direction of Trump — that stated the "hardworking American taxpayers" shouldn't have to fund this. Carson claimed California is over-regulating the housing market, and also accused the state of undercutting "the ability of police officers to enforce quality-of-life laws, remove encampments, and connect our most vulnerable populations with supportive services they need."

On Wednesday night, Trump brought up the topic of homelessness in California again, telling reporters on Air Force One that used needles are going into storm drains and then emptying into the ocean. The Environmental Protection Agency will soon send San Francisco a notice, he added, saying the city is in "total violation" of an unspecified environmental law. "EPA is going to be putting out a notice," he said. "They're in serious violation. ... They have to clean it up. We can't have our cities going to hell."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up