Donald Trump to sign executive orders cracking down on cashless bail, flag desecration
US President Donald Trump is set to sign two executive orders on Monday (August 25), one seeking to roll back cashless bail nationwide and another mandating prosecution of those who desecrate the American flag.
The first order directs US Attorney General Pam Bondi to compile a list of state and local jurisdictions that use cashless bail and identify federal funds that could be “suspended or terminated” in those places. A separate measure focused on Washington, D.C., will instruct police to charge suspects with federal crimes and hold them in federal custody to bypass the city’s bail system.
Trump has frequently attacked cashless bail, calling it a “disaster” when he announced the temporary federalization of Washington’s police force earlier this month. The White House said the move reflects his broader “tough-on-crime” agenda ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
Cashless bail policies, adopted in places like Illinois, New York, California, and New Jersey, allow defendants to be released before trial without posting money, based on their likelihood of returning to court. Critics say the system puts public safety at risk, while supporters argue it prevents discrimination against low-income defendants who cannot afford bail.
Flag desecration order
In a separate action, Trump will order the attorney general to “vigorously prosecute” individuals who desecrate the US flag, including by burning it. The directive also calls for litigation to clarify First Amendment protections around flag desecration, which the Supreme Court has historically upheld as a form of free speech.
“The American flag is the most sacred and cherished symbol of the United States of America,” the White House said in a statement, calling desecration “uniquely offensive and provocative.”
The order further instructs federal authorities to refer cases to state and local prosecutors and to block visas, residence permits, and naturalization proceedings for noncitizens who desecrate the flag.
