Governor Landry Seeks Extended Troop Presence Through 2026, Contradicting Published Violent Crime Data
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, has asked for the deployment of National Guard troops to New Orleans and other Louisiana cities through fiscal year 2026. Governor Landry stated the state requires assistance in fighting crime and addressing law enforcement shortages.
The Governor made the request in a letter sent to Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon’s top official, and sought support for an extended deployment of 1,000 troops.
“Since taking office, we have made real progress in driving down crime across Louisiana — but the job is far from finished. 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,” said Landry. “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 request follows suggestions by President Trump that New Orleans could be one of the next targets for federal military deployment to address crime.
Louisiana’s request aligns with recent federal deployments in Washington D.C. and Memphis, which similarly saw troops sent despite some reports of steep crime reductions. President Trump’s administration has also deployed troops to Los Angeles and announced plans for similar actions in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago.
Governor Landry’s letter stated that there were “elevated violent crime rates” and local law enforcement shortages in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, has also seen a decrease in homicides compared to last year, though police figures show robberies and assaults are on pace to surpass 2024 figures.
Leaders in Democratic-controlled states have criticized the Trump administration’s planned deployments, arguing troops are not needed. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has stated that these deployments are not making the state safer.
The mayors of Shreveport and Baton Rouge are Republican, while New Orleans’s mayor is a Democrat.
Landry’s request also cited Louisiana’s vulnerability to natural disasters and the need for extra support for major events, including Mardi Gras and college football bowl games in New Orleans.
The use of the National Guard for crime control has historical precedent in the city; the guard was sent into New Orleans in 2006 following an infamous quintuple murder, on the orders of then-Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, as the city recovered from Hurricane Katrina.
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