US violent crime is at its lowest in more than a century – but the funding that helped reduce it is disappearing

A historic drop in violent crime, including the murder rate, is at risk after the cancellation of federal funding for programs that helped make the decline possible.

By: Andrea Hagan, Loyola University New Orleans, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 6, 2026

Words: 1,024

Last Updated: 1 month ago

Body Text Preview

By Andrea Hagan, Loyola University New Orleans

The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point in more than a century.

Homicides across 35 major American cities fell 21% in 2025, amounting to 922 fewer people killed. Robberies dropped 23%. Gun assaults declined 22%. Carjackings plummeted 43%.

Yet the Trump administration has yanked hundreds of millions of dollars …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us