BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry has formally asked the federal government to send in as many as 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops to patrol high-crime areas across the state, citing surging violent crime and severe manpower shortages in local law enforcement.
In a letter sent Monday to U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Landry requested the Guard’s activation under Title 32 authority through the end of Fiscal Year 2026. The troops, he wrote, would work alongside state and federal law enforcement to address “ongoing public safety concerns regarding high crime rates throughout the State.”
Landry can activate the Louisiana National Guard on his own, but he needs federal approval to have Washington cover the cost.
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Mayor-President Sid Edwards says the additional resources can provide “much-needed boots on the ground.”
“In the coming months, Baton Rouge will host a number of large events, including Mardi Gras, and ensuring the safety of those gatherings is critical,” Edwards said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “My long-term goal is to bring at least 100 more officers onto our streets, but that process takes time. In the meantime, supplemental support can help bridge the gap and strengthen our collective efforts to protect the people of Baton Rouge.”
See the full statement below
Landry pointed to violent crime in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, where he said homicides, carjackings, and gang activity remain well above national averages. Crime stats, however, show major crime in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans lower than they have been in the past several years.
“These manpower shortages limit their ability to effectively address this public safety threat,” Landry wrote, arguing that local agencies are stretched thin, not only by crime but also by Louisiana’s recurring natural disasters.
The governor’s request echoes discussions inside the Trump administration. Earlier this month, a Pentagon planning document was published by the Washington Post detailing the Louisiana deployment. That draft plan also envisioned a presence in cities through September 2026.
President Trump himself fueled speculation during a stop in Louisiana when he said, “New Orleans is in really bad shape … I can fix that up in a week and a half.”
If approved, the Guard’s role would go beyond boots on the ground. Landry’s letter outlined missions including logistical and communications support, securing critical infrastructure, and supplementing police patrols in high-crime neighborhoods. He emphasized that troops would operate under strict rules for use of force and “prioritize community outreach, to ensure transparency and public trust.”
The governor also pointed to what he called past successes. Guard deployments after Hurricane Ida in 2021, Hurricane Francine in 2024, and the 2025 terrorist attack and Mardi Gras celebrations, he said, cut crime in New Orleans by 50% during early 2025.
The proposed deployment would extend through major upcoming events like the Bayou Classic, the Sugar Bowl, and Mardi Gras, times when local police already struggle with shortages.
The idea of militarizing city streets has drawn sharp pushback from community leaders. Eugene Collins, a Baton Rouge-based activist and former NAACP chapter president, told UWK earlier this month that the plan fails to address the root causes of crime.
“My initial thoughts, even when I saw those in D.C., is, ‘That it’s irresponsible, right?’ Because it’s not a long-term solution to crime prevention,” Collins said. “You can’t possibly do this forever. You’re only looking at a short period of time, and then you’re back to the same issues. Unless you’re hitting those marks — education, employment, economics — you’re simply putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound, and that just won’t work.”
Collins also raised concerns about how troops would be positioned and the effect on everyday life.
“Where do you position the National Guard to reduce crime? It may hinder some things,” he said. “When you talk about your ability to move around town, whether it’s getting to a football game or getting to a voting poll, what does that look like? Nobody’s been able to clearly lay that out.
“It sends a message that says, ‘We really don’t care about fixing crime. We want to look like we’re fixing crime.’ The people in North Baton Rouge understand how you fix crime. And that’s competent programming, better schools, more after-school programs, crime prevention programs. We had things that were working in Baton Rouge, and we’re watching those things disappear at the same time.”
“When I decided to run for Mayor-President, public safety was my number one priority, and over the last nine months, that goal has not changed. Our Baton Rouge Police Department has been working tirelessly, and I am encouraged that violent crime numbers are trending downward. However, our department is still operating with a shortage of roughly 150 officers. While progress is being made, even one victim is one too many. Additional resources can provide much-needed boots on the ground and extra eyes in our community to help keep our residents safe.
In the coming months, Baton Rouge will host a number of large events, including Mardi Gras, and ensuring the safety of those gatherings is critical. My long-term goal is to bring at least 100 more officers onto our streets, but that process takes time. In the meantime, supplemental support can help bridge the gap and strengthen our collective efforts to protect the people of Baton Rouge.
We are continuing to evaluate the details, logistics, and timeline of a possible National Guard deployment. Should troops be stationed in Baton Rouge, I will work to ensure they act in a supportive role rather than a replacement for our local police officers. As Mayor-President, I am committed to taking every necessary step to ensure the safety of all East Baton Rouge Parish residents. The chain of command and the Guard’s official scope of responsibilities have yet to be determined. However, I will work closely with our state and federal partners to clarify details prior to any deployment. As more information becomes available, we will notify the public.”
Sid Edwards
Mayor-President, East Baton Rouge Parish
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