Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + News websites
Today 09:30

Planning documents suggest a Trump-era proposal to send 1,000 Guard troops to Louisiana cities, raising debate over crime policy and federal overreach.

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Members of the National Guard stand as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow governors hold a news conference along the Rio Grande to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns, Feb. 4, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas (AP)

US President Donald Trump’s administration has drawn up plans to deploy 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops to support law enforcement in the state’s urban centers, according to military planning documents obtained by The Washington Post.

The proposal, still in draft form, would see Guard personnel supplement police forces in cities such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge, providing “logistical and communications support,” as well as potential roles in drug interdiction, the newspaper reported. The plan envisions a mobilization through September 30, 2026, though no start date was listed.

An unsigned memo attributed to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the deployment as offering a “unique advantage” in "combating crime", according to the Post. The move hinges on a request from Louisiana’s Republican governor, Jeff Landry, a close Trump ally.

'A stunt, not a solution'

Trump has made crime a centerpiece of his administration’s domestic agenda, despite data showing declines in violent crime in many US cities. He has already pledged to send Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, and has sharply criticized Democratic-led municipalities. Critics argue the deployments are more about projecting power than addressing crime.

In Louisiana, political reaction has been mixed. While Landry and the Republican mayors of Shreveport and Baton Rouge could back the plan, leaders in New Orleans, the state’s most prominent city, led by a Democrat, warn that a military presence risks inflaming tensions.

Residents in Shreveport told Reuters the proposal appeared more political than practical. “This is a stunt, not a solution,” one said, reflecting concern that Trump is using federal power to shape perceptions of crime rather than address local needs.

The Pentagon has reportedly declined to comment directly on the documents. A spokesperson said, “Leaked documents should not be interpreted as policy. We will not discuss these plans through leaked documents, pre-decisional or otherwise.”