California Gov. Gavin Newsom is escalating his fight on crime and homelessness with two new statewide initiatives, the deployment of California Highway Patrol crime-suppression teams and the launch of a multi-agency task force to clear homeless encampments. The White House, however, mocked his moves as imitations of President Trump’s crackdown on crime and homelessness.
CHP Crime Teams Rolled Out Statewide
On Thursday, Newsom announced he is dispatching Highway Patrol officers to cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, and the Central Valley. The officers will partner with local law enforcement to “saturate high-crime areas, target repeat offenders and seize illicit weapons and narcotics,” his office said. “While the Trump administration undermines cities, California is partnering with them and delivering real results,” Newsom said, citing more than 9,000 arrests, 5,800 recovered vehicles, and 400 confiscated firearms in pilot programs in Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino.
White House Pushes Back
Trump administration officials quickly derided the rollout, calling it a political about-face. “After Newsom spent weeks criticizing the president’s highly successful efforts to crack down on crime, he’s reverted to his tried-and-true strategy: embracing and copying the Trump agenda,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.
She added that while the administration welcomed Democrats “following the president’s lead,” it accused Newsom of politicizing public safety.
Newsom Counters Trump’s ‘Militarization’
At a press conference, Newsom criticized Trump’s use of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., and previously in California without his request. He argued Trump is “militarizing American cities” while ignoring crime in Republican-led states with far higher homicide rates.
Citing CDC data, Newsom said, “If Trump were serious about fighting crime, he’d be sending troops to Louisiana and Mississippi.”
New State Task Force on Encampments
One day later, Newsom launched the State Action for Facilitation on Encampments (SAFE) Task Force, aimed at removing homeless encampments from highways, underpasses, and other state property. The team includes six agencies, from the Highway Patrol to the Department of Housing and Community Development, tasked with combining enforcement with housing and healthcare services. “No one should live in a dangerous or unsanitary encampment,” Newsom said. “We will continue our ongoing work to ensure that everyone has a safe place to call home.”
Trump and Newsom on Collision Course
Both leaders have unveiled aggressive policies on crime and homelessness, and experts note their approaches often overlap. Trump has federalized the National Guard and signed executive orders urging cities to sweep encampments, while Newsom has pressed California cities to restrict camping and increase enforcement.
Newsom’s office sought to draw a clear distinction: “Unlike the haphazard strategies employed by the Trump Administration, California’s SAFE Task Force brings together each of the tools created by Governor Newsom to clear encampments and connect people with the care they need.”
California’s Crime and Homelessness Record
Newsom highlighted California’s $1.7 billion investment in crime reduction since 2019 and pointed to data showing homicide, robbery, and property crime rates have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels. On homelessness, his office argued California is “outperforming the nation” despite persistent encampments, citing partnerships with local governments and expanded supportive housing.