Republicans claim record drop in violent crime amid new law-and-order measures

According to Republican leaders, the 119th Congress marks a turning point for public safety, with voters rejecting earlier calls to defund police and abolish prisons. They attribute a roughly 20% reduction in murder and robbery from 2024 to 2025 to a suite of crime-focused bills, such as a fentanyl-knockoff ban and increased funding for law enforcement and border security. The Senate Judiciary Committee is said to have expedited confirmations of key Department of Justice figures, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, and judges aligned with the administration.

A forthcoming comprehensive crime package aims to protect children online, curb organized retail theft, and limit illicit substances like xylazine, seeking inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act. Proponents argue these steps have made the United States the safest it has been in a century.