US News
US domestic violence killings remain elevated despite nationwide decline in homicides
FBI data and advocacy groups report rising domestic violence incidents and shelter demands as proposed federal budget cuts raise concerns.
The short version
- Domestic violence homicides and reported incidents remain persistently high in multiple US cities and states even as overall homicide rates experience historic drops.
- Support organizations are facing heightened demand, with the National Domestic Violence Hotline answering 1 million calls in 2025 compared to nearly 637,000 in 2020.
- Advocates and public health experts express concern over proposed federal funding reductions for transitional housing and legal aid, while the administration focuses on immigration enforcement and criminal justice.
Key facts
- According to a 2026 FBI report, the share of violent crimes involving domestic violence in the United States rose from 25% in 2020 to 27.5% in 2024.[The Guardian]
- Killings linked to domestic violence in Chicago rose 15% between 2024 and 2025, even though overall city homicides dropped from 805 in 2021 to 425 in 2025.[The Guardian]
- Ohio experienced its deadliest year on record for domestic violence fatalities in 2025, and Kansas City, Missouri, logged its second-deadliest year for such killings.[The Guardian]
- The National Network to End Domestic Violence reported that the proposed 2027 federal budget contains a reduction of nearly $30 million for transitional housing and legal assistance grant programs.[The Guardian]
- Early in the second Trump administration, officials terminated hundreds of millions of dollars in grants for research and prevention non-profits, citing misalignment with administrative goals, though some grants were later reinstated.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The specific causes driving the localized increases in domestic violence homicides despite broad decreases in violent crime remain unconfirmed by researchers.[The Guardian]
- The final status of proposed cuts to transitional housing and legal assistance grants in the 2027 federal budget remains undetermined pending congressional budget negotiations.[The Guardian]