Louisiana Governor Seeks Deployment of 1,000 National Guard Troops

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Gov. Jeff Landry has asked President Donald J. Trump's administration for a federally funded deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops in Louisiana cities to support law enforcement.

In a letter to the Pentagon, he cited crime in cities like Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans. He did not lay out a precise plan for where guard members would be deployed.

"Federal partnerships in our toughest cities have worked, and now, with the support of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, we are taking the next step by bringing in the National Guard," Landry said in a release Monday night. "This mission is about saving lives and protecting families. To the criminals terrorizing our communities: your time is up. Law and order are back in Louisiana."

The move would mark another high-profile deployment of the National Guard since Trump began his second term, following his controversial decision to send thousands of members to Washington, D.C. as part of a crackdown on crime and immigration.

The Trump administration also recently announced plans to send the Guard to Memphis, Tenn. and Portland, Oreg., although in much smaller numbers.

In his letter to Hegseth, Landry says the troops would remain in Louisiana until the end of the 2026 fiscal year, though he does not specify whether he is referring to the state or federal fiscal calendar. The state fiscal year ends on June 30; the federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

Landry has the power to activate the Louisiana National Guard himself, but he needs the Trump administration's approval for the deployment to be federally funded. His letter requests a Title 32 deployment, meaning the soldiers would remain under the control of state officials.

"The proposed mission and scope for the Louisiana National Guard would be to deploy throughout state to urban centers, supplement law enforcement presence in high-crime areas, provide logistical and communication support, and secure critical infrastructure," Landry's letter said.

In Washington, D.C., Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard sparked widespread pushback. Critics said the move was reminiscent of authoritarianism and argued that it was not justified, as D.C.'s crime rates were down.

Trump also sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles earlier this year over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Oregon has sued to block the planned deployment of 200 troops to Portland.

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