The Largest Crime Drop in 90 Years

New FBI data confirm 2025 delivered the biggest one-year decline in the violent crime rate since national estimates began in 1936. Preliminary FBI data for the first half of 2026 show the decline continuing.

▼9.7%

Violent crime rate
Largest annual drop ever recorded

▼18.1%

Murder rate
4.1 per 100K, tied for lowest ever recorded

▼18.5%

Robbery
Lowest rate in 20 years

▼12.4%

Property crime
Burglary at a 20-year low

▼22.7%

Motor vehicle theft
Down 38.8% from 2023

U.S. Murder Rate, 2006–2025

Rate per 100,000 inhabitants; raw counts derived from FBI rates × U.S. population

6.6 (21,500 murders), 2020 peak

4.1 in 2025 (14,000 murders)

2020–2022: The murder rate averaged 6.6 per 100,000, its highest sustained level since the mid-1990s.

2023–2025: The rate fell in each of the next three years, reaching 4.1 in 2025. That is the largest one-year decline on record.

7,900 fewer murders per year than at the 2020 peak. The 2020 increase was fully erased in five years.

Crime Drop Factors

National Guard Deployments: Guard units were directed into D.C. by the President and into Memphis and New Orleans at their governors’ requests. In D.C., ~2,000 Guard members more than doubled the visible uniformed presence, which researchers tied to a 24% drop in property crime (Niskanen Center).

Clearance Rates: Police solved a larger share of violent crime in 2025. Clearance rates rose from 43.8% in 2024 to 47.4% in 2025 (FBI).

Prosecutions: In D.C., the U.S. Attorney charged 16,724 cases in the task force’s first year, up 67% over the prior year. In Memphis, 195 federal defendants were charged in the task force’s first three months.

Joint Task Forces: 59 Homeland Security Task Forces were created by executive order in 2025, drawing more than 20 federal agencies and 440 state and local agencies into joint operations (CRS).

Cities With Federal Task Force Operations in 2025–26

Washington, D.C.

GUARD DEPLOYED AUG. 11, 2025

▼41%

Homicides, First Half of 2026

▼24%

Property Crime Tied to Guard Presence

Safe & Beautiful Task Force: 16,000+ arrests, ~2,000 illegal guns seized, 100+ gang members and 35 homicide suspects apprehended.

Memphis, TN

SAFE TASK FORCE, SEPT. 29, 2025

▼44%

Murders, First Half of 2026

▼62%

Motor Vehicle Theft

Tennessee Guard + a dozen-plus federal agencies: 10,000+ arrests, 1,700+ illegal guns seized, 154 missing children located. Violent crime down 40%+ in 2026.

New Orleans, LA

OPERATION NOLA SAFE, JAN 2026

▼55%

Murders Since 2022

3rd

Straight Year of Decline

Louisiana Guard deployed at Gov. Landry’s request: 175 arrests, 100+ guns and 20 kg of cocaine seized, 4 trafficking victims rescued.

2026 Is on Pace to Beat It

▼10.6%

Violent Crime, Jan–Jun*

▼23.0%

Murder, Jan–Jun*

▼19.6%

Robbery, Jan–Jun*

▼17.2%

Big-City Homicides (66 Cities)