Hundreds of National Guard troops have been deployed to the streets of New Orleans as the city prepares for New Year's Eve, marking the sombre anniversary of a deadly terrorist attack that claimed 14 lives on Bourbon Street.
Enhanced Security for Anniversary and Festivities
The deployment of 350 National Guard members began on Tuesday 30 December 2025, authorised by President Donald Trump. This forms part of a substantial security operation for the New Year celebrations, which will see more than 800 local, state, and federal law enforcement officials on the ground. Their duties will include closing Bourbon Street to vehicles, conducting patrols, performing bag searches, and managing traffic.
New Orleans police spokesperson Reese Harper emphasised that the Guard's role is purely for security enhancement. "They're not here for immigration purposes," Harper stated. "They're here for that added layer of visibility. This is for visibility and just really to keep our citizens safe." The troops will be confined to the tourist-heavy French Quarter area, operating in a similar capacity to their deployment earlier in the year following the attack.
Remembering the Bourbon Street Attack
The heightened security comes exactly one year after a horrific vehicle-ramming attack in the early hours of New Year's Day. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran who had expressed support for the Islamic State group online, drove around a police blockade and sped down Bourbon Street, ploughing into revelers. He was fatally shot by police after crashing.
In a chilling aftermath, law enforcement conducted an expansive search and located multiple bombs in coolers placed around the French Quarter. Fortunately, none of the explosive devices detonated. In the immediate wake of the attack, 100 National Guard members were sent to the city to assist.
A Protracted Deployment Through Carnival
This latest deployment is not an isolated event. The National Guard has previously bolstered security for major events in New Orleans this year, including the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. "It's no different than what we've seen in the past," Harper noted.
The 350 Guard members are expected to remain through the entire Carnival season, which culminates with Mardi Gras in mid-February. Lieutenant Colonel Noel Collins of the Louisiana National Guard said in a statement that the Guard will support law enforcement to "enhance capabilities, stabilize the environment, assist in reducing crime, and restore public trust."
The move follows a request in September from Governor Jeff Landry for 1,000 federal troops to assist Louisiana cities, citing crime concerns. This was met with resistance from Democratic leaders in New Orleans, who argued the deployment was unwarranted and pointed to a dramatic decrease in the city's violent crime rates in recent years.
