I don't think there were Federal mental hospitals. They were run by the states (My Dad worked in several state hospitals in CPS during WWII, and my brother worked in one during Vietnam). So I wonder how he sees this working. I imagine it's just another one of his Royal Decrees.

Many on the left have for decades lamented the scarcity of non-prison options for those in mental crisis. But we did NOT anticipate the problem being “addressed” by a doddering, venally cretinous imbecile who still says “insane asylum”. That ALONE screams that this will make it all worse.

“Reporter” who “floated the idea” is named “Reagen.” Not even kidding.

Language matters here. I'm not opposed to reopening safe, ethical mental health institutions and hospitals, which would likely show some benefit to the unhoused population. Insane asylums were neither safe nor ethical.