Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry requested that the White House deploy the Louisiana National Guard to the state in order to combat accelerating crime rates.
President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to California in June, along with Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee, for similar purposes. In early September, the president expressed an openness to sending National Guard troops to New Orleans, Louisiana.
The governor declared his request in a letter to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday, outlining his intentions.
Landry wrote that major Louisiana cities like Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans have faced an elevation in violent crime rates coinciding with “personnel shortages within local law enforcement.”
“These manpower shortages limit their ability to effectively address this public safety threat and consequently, incidents of homicide, carjacking, and gang-related violence, significantly exceed the national average,” the governor wrote. “These challenges are further compounded by the state’s vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly hurricanes, which further strains the limited public safety resources available to local and state government.”
“The proposed mission and scope for the Louisiana National Guard would be to deploy throughout the state to urban centers, supplement law enforcement presence in high-crime areas, provide logistical and communication support, and secure critical infrastructure,” Landry continued. “All operations will adhere to established rules for use of force and prioritize community outreach, to ensure transparency and public trust.”
Certain public events attracting large audiences were cited by the governor as past instances wherein federal support was effective in the state, such as “high-profile” public events like the annual NCAA Sugar Bowl.
The White House has yet to declare any direction in response to Landry’s letter.
