The U.S. murder rate has fallen to a level not seen since the 1950s, marking another major decline in violent crime after the increases recorded during the pandemic.
CNN highlighted newly released FBI crime data showing a sharp reduction in killings nationwide. The FBI reported that murder and non-negligent manslaughter fell 18.1% from 2024 to 2025, while violent crime overall dropped 9.3%. The homicide rate reached 4.1 per 100,000 people, matching levels last recorded in the mid-1950s.
President Donald Trump pointed to the numbers during an appearance at the Nassau County Police Academy in New York, crediting his administration’s law enforcement policies with helping drive the decline.
Crime researchers have offered a more cautious assessment. The downward trend began before Trump returned to office and has appeared in communities with different policing strategies, economic conditions and political leadership.
Early figures from 2026 indicate that homicides and other violent crimes have continued to decline, extending a national trend that began after the pandemic-era surge.