Rutgers researchers warn federal cuts threaten U.S. firearm violence prevention progress

Rutgers researchers are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a collapse of the nation’s firearm violence prevention infrastructure, warning that recent federal cuts and policy reversals threaten to reverse years of progress in reducing gun-related deaths.

In 2024, the United States saw a historic 16% drop in homicides compared to the previous year — a decline that experts say reflects the success of evidence-based firearm violence prevention when adequately funded and supported.

But according to a recent editorial published in the American Journal of Public Health, those gains are now at risk. The piece, co-authored by Rutgers professor Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, and other national experts, warns that federal disinvestment in research and prevention programs could undermine community safety.

“In just a few months, we have witnessed the rapid dismantling of the very systems that have helped reduce firearm violence in recent years,” said Semenza, who is also an associate professor in the Departments of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, and Urban-Global Public Health. “This is not just a policy shift, it’s a threat to public health and safety. Public safety isn’t automatic. It relies on an infrastructure that includes research, prevention programs, and community interventions that must be protected and sustained.”

The researchers noted that critical funding has been terminated, enforcement of firearm regulations scaled back, and staffing cuts at public health agencies have weakened prevention efforts. They warned that without sustained investment, firearm-related deaths — including suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings — are likely to rise, particularly in communities already facing higher rates of gun violence.

“Dismantling critical prevention systems jeopardizes recent progress in reducing firearm violence,” said Semenza. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the role of science in shaping public safety policy and cautioned against efforts to politicize or suppress research. “Sustained federal and local leadership funding should remain a cornerstone of effective gun violence prevention,” he said.

Gun violence remains a leading cause of injury and death for children and adolescents in the U.S., the researchers noted, with impacts that extend far beyond those directly affected. Exposure to gun violence, even indirectly, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic health issues, and long-term disability.

“Addressing this crisis requires more than reactive measures; it demands a sustained commitment to research, community-based prevention, cross-sector collaboration, and strong federal leadership,” Semenza said. “Now is the time to reinforce—not dismantle—the systems that protect our most vulnerable and advance public safety for all.”