D.C. violent crime drops for second straight year — as politics around it heat up
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Violent crime is down in D.C. for the second straight year — extending a steep drop from the city's post-pandemic crime peak.
The big picture: The sustained decline in homicides, robberies and other violent crimes came during an especially turbulent year for policing in the District.
Driving the news: Homicides fell 32% in 2025, year over year, according to city data.
- The District recorded 127 murders — down sharply from 274 in 2023, its deadliest year in decades.
By the numbers: Overall violent crime dropped 29% in 2025, including:
- Robberies ⬇️ 37%
- Sex abuse ⬇️ 29%
- Assault with a dangerous weapon ⬇️ 10%
Reality check: Falling crime stats don't erase the trauma of violence. Victims and families of the slain continue to speak out about failures in policing and justice reform — especially as President Trump falsely claims his federal police takeover eradicated crime in D.C.
- Last weekend, Trump declared D.C. a "totally safe city," saying there were no murders in "six, seven months."
- City data shows five homicides in December alone, including a deadly double shooting on New Year's Eve.
Catch up quick: 2025 was a turmoil-filled year, marked by Trump's deployment of the National Guard and the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department.
- Police chief Pamela Smith resigned, and Congressional Republicans alleged that MPD manipulated crime statistics to reflect lower numbers, an accusation the department strongly refuted.
Zoom out: Several new policing and public safety tools have taken hold, including the first year of the department's Real-Time Crime Center — a 24/7, tech-driven hub that supports police on the streets — and the launch of a new regional crime dashboard that helps departments coordinate responses across jurisdictional lines.