The Trump administration’s latest law enforcement proposal has Louisiana at the center of a heated national debate, after multiple outlets including Reuters and The Washington Post reported that Pentagon planning documents outline the potential deployment of 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops to conduct policing operations in the state’s urban centers. The plan, which would mark a significant expansion of the military’s domestic role, has not yet been finalized, but its mere existence has already sparked a firestorm of political and public reaction across the state and beyond.
According to The Washington Post, the draft proposal would see National Guard personnel supplementing law enforcement in cities such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The documents, which have been confirmed as authentic by Pentagon officials but stressed as “not policy,” detail a mobilization that could last until September 30, 2026, though no start date is specified. The plan depends on a formal request from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican and political ally of President Trump. As of September 13, 2025, both federal and state officials have said no such approval has been given, and the Louisiana National Guard has not received any orders related to the proposal.
The draft memo, reportedly authored by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, highlights what it calls the “unique advantage” of the Pentagon’s approach to law enforcement in Louisiana. The plan proposes that the troops would remain under Governor Landry’s control, but the mobilization would be funded with federal dollars. The National Guard would not only bolster police presence in high-crime neighborhoods but also assist with drug interdiction and provide logistical and communications support to local authorities, according to The Washington Post.
President Trump has made crime a major focus of his administration, even as violent crime rates have fallen in many U.S. cities. In recent weeks, he has shifted his attention to Democratic-led cities within Republican-led states, frequently naming New Orleans and Memphis as potential targets for federal intervention. On September 12, 2025, Trump announced plans to send National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, and suggested in a Fox News interview that crime in New Orleans could be solved “in about two weeks.” He also claimed that Louisiana’s governor “wants us to go in,” pledging to “fix” New Orleans in a week and a half.
Despite the President’s rhetoric, many local officials and residents question the necessity and motivation behind the plan. U.S. Representative Troy Carter of New Orleans called the details reported by The Washington Post “deeply troubling,” but was quick to note, “this is not an official order — it’s a draft proposal that even the Pentagon says should not be interpreted as policy.” Carter added, “New Orleans is experiencing the lowest crime rates in decades. There is no ‘emergency’ that justifies militarizing our streets.” He argued that if the President truly wants to help, he should focus on investing in police recruitment and training, strengthening the district attorney’s office, and reviving community policing efforts.
Crime statistics seem to support Carter’s view. After a spike in violence during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Orleans is now on track for the fewest murders since the early 1970s. Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy echoed the sentiment that federal resources could be helpful, but noted that his city has seen gun-related homicides fall by 60% since he took office. “With focus, those resources could make a real difference and are welcome,” Roy said, referencing the possibility of drawing on local National Guard units for additional support.
Not everyone in Louisiana’s leadership is opposed to the idea of federal help. Shane Guidry, a New Orleans businessman and confidant of Governor Landry, suggested that the administration is preparing for states where governors would approve such deployments. “My understanding is they are getting prepared for governors that want help,” Guidry told The Advocate. He added, “I caution those leaders out there that are so against that help, where those who do accept the help will shine with the voters. I don’t care who you are: No one wants their daughter beat up, their mother-in-law carjacked.”
Yet, for many ordinary residents, especially in Shreveport, the prospect of National Guard patrols feels more like political theater than a genuine solution to crime. More than a dozen Shreveport residents told Reuters they viewed any deployment as a political stunt, designed to blunt criticism that Trump is only targeting Democratic-controlled cities and states. The proposal has also fueled legal concerns and prompted protests, including a demonstration by several thousand people in Washington, D.C. last weekend.
Democratic leaders at both the state and national level have criticized the proposed deployment as a “show of power” rather than a serious crime-fighting effort. They argue that deploying the National Guard in this way risks militarizing American streets and could undermine trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The fact that the plan would expand the military’s role in policing American citizens has only heightened these concerns, with some legal experts warning that such actions could set a troubling precedent.
For its part, the Pentagon has sought to tamp down speculation. A spokesperson reiterated, “Leaked documents should not be interpreted as policy. We will not discuss these plans through leaked documents, pre-decisional or otherwise.” Lt. Col. Noel Collins, a spokesperson for the Louisiana National Guard, told local media, “Just because the Pentagon’s working plans does not mean that that’s down to our level yet.” A spokesperson for Governor Landry’s office also declined to comment on “leaked or pre-decisional documents.”
As the debate plays out, the prospect of National Guard troops patrolling Louisiana’s cities remains uncertain. The proposal’s fate hinges on whether Governor Landry will formally request federal assistance—a decision that could have far-reaching implications for both the state and the nation. For now, the only certainty is that the issue has reignited longstanding questions about the balance between public safety, local control, and federal power in American life.
Whatever comes next, Louisiana’s leaders and residents alike are watching closely, weighing the risks and rewards of a plan that could reshape the relationship between the military and civilian policing for years to come.
