In the initial 28 hours of Donald Trump’s second term as president, a series of contentious actions established the framework for his administration. Among the most prominent actions, Trump annulled the environmentally-centered Green New Deal, **disabled the CBP One app** utilized by undocumented immigrants, inadvertently **identified all Americans as female**, and **eliminated all LGBTQ-related material** from the White House website.
Another major casualty of Trump’s executive actions was the **Office of Gun Violence Prevention**, a crucial initiative developed during the Biden administration. The office’s webpage, which now shows a 404 error, was discreetly taken offline on January 21, shortly after Trump enacted a range of orders reversing policies from the Biden era. Established in 2023 under the **Bipartisan Safer Communities Act**, the office was managed by former Vice President Kamala Harris, aimed at confronting gun violence through a collaborative public health strategy.
### Outrage Over the Office’s Closure
The choice to dismantle the Office of Gun Violence Prevention prompted immediate criticism. Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost from Florida, a notable Gen Z figure, shared his dissatisfaction on social media:
*”We struggled for years to bring this office to life, and it has saved lives because of our efforts. Stay tuned because we’re not going down without a fight. Trump can dissolve a life-saving office, but the public will not stand for it.”*
The closure occurred just one day prior to a devastating mass shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in at least one student’s death. Many online highlighted the timing of the office’s dismantling as indicative of the administration’s indifference toward gun violence prevention. Others speculated that its duties could potentially be taken over by the Department of Justice, which had formerly administered similar initiatives.
### Advocacy Groups Speak Out
National gun violence prevention organizations were quick to denounce the decision. **Brady**, the oldest gun violence prevention organization in the country, released a statement emphasizing the possible repercussions of losing the office. The organization credited the office for helping to significantly reduce gun violence during the Biden administration, which included a decrease in the spread of untraceable ghost guns, the largest drop in homicide rates, and historic funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs.
Brady President Kris Brown lambasted Trump’s move, asserting:
*”The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention wasn’t about partisanship – it was about enhancing the government’s capability to safeguard Americans (more than 300 of whom are shot every single day) from firearms. By closing it, Trump prioritizes the gun lobby over our children, our neighborhoods, and our nation. He may claim he will ‘make America safe again,’ but these are hollow words without action regarding guns. His decision today – along with the release of armed domestic terrorists back onto our streets – will compromise the safety of all of us.”*
### Youth-Led Movements Respond
Youth-led advocacy groups also expressed their disappointment. **March For Our Lives**, a movement founded after the Parkland school shooting, turned to social media to share their concerns, stating:
*”This is what unfolds when progress is forsaken. Lives will be lost.”*
The disbandment of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention has rekindled discussions about the federal government’s responsibility in tackling gun violence. As the nation confronts ongoing tragedies, advocates and legislators are pledging to persist in the struggle for substantial reforms, despite facing opposition from the Trump administration.