Pentagon authorizes deployment of Louisiana National Guard to support law enforcement

WASHINGTON

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the activation of up to 350 members of the Louisiana National Guard on Title 32 status through Feb. 28, 2026, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Chief spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that these troops will support federal law enforcement partners, including the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security, in enforcing federal law and addressing high rates of violent crime in New Orleans and other metropolitan areas in Louisiana.

The Guard will operate under the command of Governor Jeff Landry, with the mission designed to enhance public safety while reinforcing federal law enforcement efforts, Parnell said.

The deployment reaffirms "the Department of War's commitment to supporting our interagency partners and the safety and security of our nation," he added.

US President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, DC and is in the works to do so in Memphis, Tennessee. He sent hundreds of US Marines and thousands of National Guard members to Los Angeles in June to quell unrest caused by his immigration crackdown.