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Louisiana congressman responds to reported Pentagon draft plan for National Guard in New Orleans
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) -- Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) is voicing his opposition to a reported Pentagon draft proposal that could activate 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops for policing duties in New Orleans.
In a statement released Saturday, Sept. 13, Carter said that the plan is not an official order but rather a leaked draft document that the Pentagon itself has said should not be interpreted as policy. He emphasized that no formal request has been made by Louisiana’s state leadership.
“New Orleans should not be used as a testing ground for speculative, politically motivated plans,” Carter said.
The congressman said recent statistics show crime in New Orleans is at its lowest levels in decades, with homicides and overall crime trending downward. He argued that there is no emergency warranting military involvement on city streets.
Carter urged the federal government to focus on “real solutions,” including:
- More investment in recruiting, training, and retaining police officers.
- Additional resources for the District Attorney’s office to strengthen prosecutions.
- Reviving community policing programs that foster trust between officers and residents.
“Our National Guard must remain ready for genuine emergencies, like hurricanes and natural disasters—not diverted into political experiments in law enforcement,” Carter said. “Louisiana deserves resources, respect, and genuine partnership, not militarization.”