Decrease in Law Enforcement Officer Deaths Under Trump Administration
Since President Donald Trump assumed office in 2024, new statistics reveal a significant decline in law enforcement officer fatalities in the United States. The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) reports a 53% reduction in officer deaths overall, with a 21% decrease in fatalities involving firearms. These figures were released this past Tuesday, with Trump’s administration taking some credit, suggesting these changes reflect a shift in the policing culture over his term, especially following the unrest triggered by George Floyd’s death in 2020 and years of animosity toward law enforcement.
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned that the collaboration among police across the nation is crucial, and he believes that positive results are starting to emerge, though he acknowledges there’s still more work ahead. The NLEOMF notes that in the first half of 2025, 42 officers from various levels of law enforcement lost their lives, with 22 of those deaths due to firearms. The remaining fatalities were attributed to other causes, including health issues from traffic-related incidents.
Trump’s first presidency faced intense scrutiny due to nationwide protests associated with the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, which brought about declining morale and recruitment issues within police departments. Following these events, there were reports of many officers resigning, particularly in Democratic-controlled city departments.
After President Biden’s administration took power, it initiated lawsuits against local police departments on allegations of racism and misconduct. Later, upon Trump’s return to the White House, the Department of Justice chose to dismiss several of those lawsuits.
In January, Trump signed an executive order mandating the DOJ to pursue the death penalty for individuals who kill law enforcement officers, a move that he touted as a key priority on his first day back in office.
Bill Alexander, CEO of NLEOMF, commented on the data, stating that each number reflects the immense sacrifices made by law enforcement for their communities and the nation. While he expressed sorrow over the necessity to report any officer’s death, he also noted the encouraging decrease in fatalities reflected in the latest data.
