Leaked plan shows Pentagon planning to deploy 1,000 National Guard troops in Louisiana: Report | World News
National Guard personnel keep watch as travelers arrive at the entrance to Union Station near the Capitol, in Washington. (Photo: AP)
US President Donald Trump’s adminration is reportedly planning to deploy about 1,000 National Guard troops to conduct law enforcement operations in Louisiana’s urban centers, a leaked draft proposal citing Pentagon’s planning documents stated, Washington Post reported on Saturday.
Even after violent crime rates have plunged in several American cities, Trump has made crime a prime focus of his adminration. The US president’s crackdown on Democratic-led states has triggered legal concerns and fueled protests, including a demonstration several thousand people in the capital Washington DC.
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Democratic leaders have said that deployment of National Guard and immigration officers in cities is merely a show of power Trump, rather than a serious attempt to resolve crime in the respective states.
Reuters reported that more than a dozen residents of Shreveport, Louisiana said they viewed any law enforcement deployment the Trump adminration more of a political stunt than a serious crime-fighting solution.
A Pentagon spokesperson, talking about the leaked proposal, said “Leaked documents should not be interpreted as policy. We will not discuss these plans through leaked documents, pre-decisional or otherwise,” Reuters reported.
The leaked documents, according to the Post, details the plan that would allow the military to supplement law enforcement in cities such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The Pentagon plan has outlined the mobilization of troops until September 30, 2026 but the documents reportedly didn’t mention any start date.
Earlier on Friday, Trump had said he would deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee.
The documents accessed the Post show an unsigned and undated draft memo from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kri Noem. The purported documents highlight the “unique advantage” Pentagon would have during its approach to deploy law enforcement in Louisiana.
Trump had earlier deployed National Guard troops in Los Angeles, California and Washington DC, both run Democratic governors.
(with inputs from Washington Post, Reuters)
