Trump Vows to Target Cashless Bail and Expand Federal Death Penalty at GOP Convention
President Donald Trump pledged to intensify his administration’s crime policies during the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, calling for an end to cashless bail policies and expanded use of the federal death penalty for certain serious crimes.
During his nearly two-hour speech Wednesday, Trump said he wants capital punishment pursued against large-scale drug traffickers, human traffickers and people convicted of murdering law enforcement officers. The proposals were part of a broader agenda Trump presented for the remaining two years of his term.
Trump has already taken executive action targeting cashless bail. An order signed in August directed federal agencies to identify federal funding that could potentially be withheld from jurisdictions that substantially eliminate cash bail, though state and local bail rules are generally established through state law and court systems.
Cashless bail policies allow some defendants to remain out of jail before trial without posting a financial bond. Supporters of bail reform argue that a person’s ability to pay should not determine whether they remain incarcerated before being convicted, while critics argue that some reforms can inadequately account for public-safety risks.
Trump also restored the federal government’s pursuit of capital punishment after returning to office. On his first day, he signed an executive order directing the attorney general to pursue the death penalty in eligible federal cases and reversing the Biden administration’s moratorium on federal executions.
Federal prosecutors have subsequently sought capital punishment in dozens of cases. The death penalty can only be pursued for offenses eligible for capital punishment under federal law, meaning some of the broader changes Trump proposed would require congressional legislation rather than executive action alone.
Public safety was one of several issues Trump emphasized at the Dallas convention. He pointed to falling violent-crime and homicide figures while arguing that his administration’s approach to policing, immigration enforcement and criminal prosecution has contributed to those trends.
The president’s proposals were included alongside a wider legislative agenda covering healthcare, energy, border security, credit-card fees and election laws. Trump urged Republicans to retain control of Congress in November so lawmakers could pursue those priorities during the final two years of his presidency.