Pentagon Deploys 350 National Guard Troops to New Orleans
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Pentagon is deploying 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans through Mardi Gras in an effort to prevent crime in the city.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday that the troops will support federal authorities, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, in enforcing federal law and helping combat high rates of violence in New Orleans and other metropolitan areas in Louisiana.
“Operating under Governor Landry’s command and control, this mission will directly enhance the safety of Louisiana residents and enforcement of federal law and reaffirm the Department of Defense’s commitment to supporting our interagency partners and the safety and security of our nation,” he said.
DHS, LOUISIANA, OPERATION GREAT MIGRATION BEGINS IN MISSISSIPPI: ‘SWAMP SWEEP’
National Guard seen in Washington DC (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
The soldiers will remain in the city until Feb. 28 and help secure the French Quarter for New Year’s Eve, Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras events, Fox 8 Live reported.
“We know how to make cities safe, and the National Guard complements cities that experience high rates of crime,” Landry said during an appearance on The Will Cain Show. “Look at what the president did in Washington, D.C., when he wanted to send the National Guard into Washington, D.C., Louisiana was one of the first to put its hand up and say our troops would go there and help. And the city is so much better.”
TRUMP’S WEEK IS SHAPED BY CRIME AGENDA AND POTENTIAL SECURITY DEPLOYMENT TO CHICAGO
National Guard members are seen in Washington, D.C., on September 5, 2025, as President Donald Trump federalizes troops in the city. 350 National Guard troops will be deployed to New Orleans by February 28, 2026, the Pentagon announced this week. (Fatih Aktaş/Anadolu via Getty Images)
National Guard members currently serving in Washington, D.C., are expected to return to Louisiana, the news outlet reported.
“Our Louisiana National Guard is comprised of highly trained professionals. Many of them have supported law enforcement in Washington, D.C., and are ready to support our own state,” Maj. Gen. Friloux, Louisiana’s adjutant general, told Fox 8 Live. “We have taken action multiple times this year to support efforts in New Orleans and are prepared to do so again over the next two months.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the office of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Louisiana National Guard.
There have been 97 murders in New Orleans as of November 1. In September, Landry asked President Donald Trump to send National Guard troops to Louisiana over crime concerns.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
In early 2025, a U.S. Army veteran driving a pickup truck flying the flag of the Islamic State group crashed into New Year’s celebrations before being shot and killed by police.
