State Office of Gun Violence Prevention Now Codified in Law as Trump Administration Disbands White House Office and Cuts Funding To Reduce Gun Violence
Office Will Expand Coordination Among State and Local Agencies, Lead Safe Storage Campaign and Sustain Progress in Fight Against Gun Violence
Shootings in New York City Down 21% Year Over Year and Gun Involved Homicides are Lowest on Record
Statewide Shootings Down 17% and Number of Individuals Shot Down 26% Compared to Same Time Last Year
Sustained Progress Follows Governor’s Enactment of Nation-Leading Gun Safety Laws, Formation of Interstate Gun Task Force and $347 Million in Gun Violence Prevention Initiatives
Governor Kathy Hochul announced continued progress in the fight against gun violence, with newly released data showing that New York State’s comprehensive prevention strategies are working. From January through May 2025, shooting incidents involving injury declined by 17 percent compared to the same period last year, and the number of individuals shot dropped by 26 percent throughout the major metropolitan areas outside of New York City, also known as the 21 Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative counties. In New York City, shooting incidents and the number of individuals shot are both down 21 percent compared to the same period last year, and gun involved homicides are at the lowest on record. Preliminary statewide data shows additional decreases in shooting incidents through the first three weeks of June 2025. These results reflect the sustained impact of the State’s data-driven, community-based approach to public safety.
“My top priority is public safety, and here in New York, we’re laser focused on cracking down on gun violence to make our streets and communities safer,” Governor Hochul said. “By codifying the State’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention, we’re increasing the impact of our efforts to mitigate gun crimes in New York and working directly with the communities most affected by gun violence to fundamentally change the way we address and combat this public health crisis across our state.”
At the same time, Governor Hochul announced that the New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) is now permanently codified in state law through the FY26 Enacted Budget. Originally established by Executive Order in 2021, the office is housed within the Division of Criminal Justice Services and leads the State’s efforts to coordinate violence reduction strategies among state and local agencies, analyze data and support community organizations that serve individuals affected by gun violence. New York is the first state to enshrine into law an office dedicated to gun violence prevention since the closure by the Trump Administration of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
This milestone comes as federal support for gun violence prevention efforts has been disrupted and dismantled. The closure of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and recent cuts to Community-Based Violence Intervention grants from the U.S. Department of Justice have placed added strain on local organizations. New York State’s continued investment through OGVP helps ensure these critical efforts remain strong and effective.
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has been focused on driving down gun violence across the state, enacting policies and prioritizing legislation that make New Yorkers and their communities safer. This includes investing $347 million in gun violence prevention measures, strengthening nation-leading gun safety laws, supporting communities and law enforcement and keeping guns away from those who could do harm. From January 2021 through May 2025, New York State Police have seized 4,902 guns and secured Extreme Risk Protection Orders to over 5,500 individuals who were found to be a danger to themselves or others, removing any firearms they possessed and preventing them from making purchases.
Newly released data comes from the 28 police departments outside of New York City participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative. Cities including Albany, Buffalo and Rochester all reported double-digit reductions in both shooting incidents involving injury and the number of individuals shot. In May 2025, four individuals were killed by gun violence across these jurisdictions, down from 13 in May 2024.
To build on this progress, OGVP will launch a statewide safe storage public awareness campaign and make $5 million available for community-based organizations to provide safe spaces for youth mentorship, mental health services, and recreational programming in the coming months. The awareness campaign will promote responsible gun ownership and distribute free gun locks to help prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths, especially among children and teens.
About the Office of Gun Violence Prevention
The New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), housed within the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), leads a coordinated statewide approach to preventing gun violence. Its mission is to build a comprehensive, equity-driven public health model that addresses the root causes of violence by strengthening communities and public systems. OGVP plays a central role in New York’s broader violence prevention ecosystem, partnering with the Department of Health (DOH), the Office of Children and Family Services (OFCS), the Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Office of Victim Services (OVS), and State and local stakeholders across New York, including the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Visit the Office of Gun Violence Prevention webpage to learn more.
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