Homicides fall 17% in big U.S. cities as the post-pandemic crime decline continues
Data: Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) ; Chart: Russell Contreras/Axios Violent crime kept falling across many of the nation's largest cities through June, with homicides down 17.2% from the first half of 2025, according to preliminary data reviewed by Axios. Why it matters: The decline now spans two presidencies — it began falling under President Biden after the pandemic-era surge, and has…
The homicide rate in major U.S. cities has declined by 17.2% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to preliminary data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). This continues a downward trend in violent crime that began during the Biden presidency and has persisted under the Trump administration.
Homicides fell by 43.9% in Washington D.C., 43.7% in Memphis, 38.3% in Houston, and 27.2% in Philadelphia. The White House claims President Trump's administration is making America safer than any other in history, citing these crime declines. However, some cities with smaller homicide numbers saw even larger percentage drops, such as Newark, where homicides fell 64.7% from 17 to six.
Other cities with higher initial homicide totals, like Honolulu and San Diego, saw similarly large percentage increases, from 85.7% to 81.3%. A separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice found similar declines in homicides across 30 cities, with a nationwide 18% decrease in the first half of 2026.
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