As of Friday, President Donald J. Trump’s administration had yet to approve Landry’s request, according to the statement.

The Louisiana National Guard said Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, who heads the force, met with New Orleans Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick and the Louisiana State Police superintendent, Col. Robert Hodges, to “conduct preliminary contingency planning to improve public safety.”

“Further development is pending, and future meetings will be held at different levels to optimize teamwork and ensure the best implementation for increasing public safety should a mobilization occur,” the release said.

Landry’s request comes amid Trump’s controversial push to deploy the National Guard and increase federal law enforcement in cities across the country, to crack down on crime, immigration and protests.

Landry cited crime in cities like New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge as justification for the guard’s mobilization in Louisiana. He also said troops would help make large events like the Bayou Classic and Mardi Gras safer.

The governor could mobilize the soldiers himself, but he needs the Trump administration’s sign-off to get federal funding.

In June, Trump deployed roughly 4,000 guardsmen to Los Angeles despite opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom. Over 2,000 troops have also been deployed to Washington, D.C. at Trump’s request.

He is also attempting to mobilize roughly 200 Oregon National Guard members in response to protests at an ICE detention facility in Portland, though state officials oppose the plan and city leaders say they don’t need the guard’s assistance to handle the single block outside the facility where protests have occurred.

The president has also proposed sending National Guard troops to Chicago and Memphis.