Louisiana Joins National Guard Deployment to Restore Law and Order in Washington, D.C.

Louisiana is answering the call to defend law and order in the nation’s capital. Governor Jeff Landry announced Monday that 135 Louisiana National Guard soldiers will deploy to Washington, D.C., to support President Donald Trump’s federal crackdown on violent crime and unrest.

“Our capital is a reflection of our nation’s respect, beauty, and standards,” Landry said in a statement. “We cannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence and lawlessness. I am proud to support this mission to return safety and sanity to Washington, D.C., and cities all across our country, including right here in Louisiana.”

Louisiana becomes the sixth state to contribute troops to the effort, joining West Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Together, these red states will send more than 1,100 additional National Guard members, more than doubling the initial 800 deployed from the D.C. Guard.

Trump’s executive order declaring a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., has brought unprecedented coordination between federal forces, local law enforcement, and state National Guard units. The president has also directed D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, further tightening security in a city that has become a symbol of rising lawlessness.

Critics, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, dismiss the crackdown as an “authoritarian escalation” and argue that the crime emergency is overstated. But for states like Louisiana, the mission is about more than political talking points—it is about restoring order and ensuring public safety.

The Louisiana National Guard confirmed that troops would deploy within 24 hours in response to the White House request. Lt. Col. Noel Collins, public affairs officer for the Guard, said the unit is prepared to reinforce federal law enforcement efforts immediately.

For Governor Landry, who has made crime reduction a central theme of his administration, this deployment reflects Louisiana’s broader commitment to tackling violence both at home and in the nation’s capital. By joining with other states to support federal law enforcement, Louisiana is sending a clear message: law and order will be defended.