Baton Rouge, Louisiana — The Pentagon has approved Louisiana’s request to deploy up to 350 National Guard members to assist local law enforcement in New Orleans and other metropolitan areas, authorizing the mission through Feb. 28, 2026. The decision gives Gov. Jeff Landry federal backing to expand the Guard’s role in policing efforts aimed at what state officials describe as persistently high levels of violent crime.
Landry announced the approval during a Fox News appearance, arguing that Guard deployments are necessary to supplement strained local police departments. While Louisiana’s largest cities have reported declines in violent crime in recent years, their rates of violent and property offenses remain above the national average, a fact the administration has repeatedly cited to justify extraordinary measures.
Although the governor already has authority to activate the National Guard, approval from the Department of Defense means the federal government will cover the costs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s authorization signals alignment with the Trump administration’s broader emphasis on visible security responses to crime, including recent National Guard patrols in Washington, D.C.
Guard members are expected to return to New Orleans shortly after Christmas, following deployments during Thanksgiving and ahead of Mardi Gras, a period that traditionally brings heightened security concerns. Similar deployments were approved last year after a deadly New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street.
Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns nationally about the normalization of military involvement in civilian policing, warning that such deployments may address political optics more than root causes of crime.
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