The “safe” drug injection sites that two cities approved could potentially be shut down due to a new executive order from President Trump. This order specifically targets facilities where individuals can use illegal substances like meth, heroin, and cocaine under supervision.
On July 24, Trump’s “End of Crime and Disability on the Streets of America” order declared that federal funding should only go to “evidence-based programs” and can exclude what it refers to as “so-called harm reduction or safe consumption efforts.”
Rep. Nicole Mariotakis (R-Staten Island) praised Trump’s directive. She stated, “I urge the Department of Justice to take immediate action, close these centers and shut down operations once and for all.”
In January 2021, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals had previously determined that running an infusion site or “consumption room” for illegal drug use violates federal law, overturning a decision from the district court for the Eastern District.
Earlier this year, Mariotakis reintroduced her legislation (the 2025 Refund Heroin Infusion Center Act) aimed at making Trump’s executive order a permanent block on federal funds for these injection sites or “illegal operations.”
In February, she called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to close two urban injection sites operated by OnpointNyc located in East Harlem and Washington Heights. These sites were initiated in November 2021 by the city’s health department under the leadership of former Mayor Bill de Blasio and have continued under Mayor Eric Adams.
In 2023, then-Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams warned the Adams administration that the sites were illegal, yet no measures were taken to close them.
The city’s health department defended the injection sites, claiming they play a crucial role in preventing overdose deaths. A spokesperson stated, “The Syringe Services Program has contributed significantly to reducing overdose fatalities, evident from last year’s low death rate.” They argued that since the 1980s, this program has greatly helped in reducing the spread of diseases and preventing countless fatalities.
While Mayor Adams had been supportive of adding more locations, OnpointNyc similarly defended its operations as vital for preventing overdoses.
However, Mariotakis argued that these government-sanctioned injection sites are harming both individuals and the surrounding communities. She said, “Since 2021, New York City has allowed two illegal drug injecting sites to operate. It’s time to close them to ensure public safety and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”
Mariotakis expressed gratitude towards President Trump for addressing issues related to homelessness and cutting federal funds for heroin injection sites. Trump’s order also aims to expand civil commitments for those on the streets or in subways suffering from severe mental illnesses, which poses risks to their well-being and that of others. Additionally, it focuses on prioritizing federal grants for areas that ban open drug use and eliminates support for a “housing first” strategy that doesn’t prioritize treatment and recovery.
