By Joshua Rosenberg, February 6, 2026
Travel cost records for the Louisiana State Police unit, who are assigned to protect the governor, are “fully exempt” from public disclosure, even as Governor Jeff Landry jet sets around the country and beyond. The Louisiana State Police Protective Services Section is specifically charged with protecting the governor and his family
The “per diem and subsistence costs” travel records that Louisiana State Police (LSP) must maintain when the governor or his family are “away from Baton Rouge” are “fully exempt from disclosure, as releasing them would constitute the disclosure of security procedures, physical security information, operational plans, and internal security information,” Jason Gregory Hessick, Assistant Secretary of Public Safety Services wrote in a letter dated August 28, 2025.
“Revealing the costs of meals, hotels, and salaries through the required ‘backup documentation,’ would naturally reveal the patterns and practices regarding the number of personnel accompanying the governor when he travels to certain locations, is at home, or is at the Capitol,” Hessick wrote. “In addition, substituting this information by providing an expense breakdown would amount to the same disclosure of internal security information. Releasing such information about the governor’s security personnel and operations would therefore be contrary to state law.”
“The Louisiana State Police maintain that these records are fully exempt from disclosure…” Hessick wrote.
Landry has been no stranger to travel since he assumed office in January 2024. He’s appeared multiple times on Fox News, which tapes in New York and Washington, D.C.. He’s also been named “Special Envoy” to Greenland by President Donald Trump. Landry has already travelled to DC to discuss that appointment. Landry says he still plans to travel to Greenland, a territory Trump has talked about taking over, despite being uninvited from a dog sled race.
It’s unclear exactly how long this policy has existed. Landry was previously fined $900 and admitted to $13k in undisclosed complimentary trips.
Landry is also reportedly flying around in a $5.5 million jet that the LSP purchased.
According to Lt. Colonel Robert Burns II, Deputy Superintendent – Chief Administrative Officer Department of Public Safety, Public Safety Services, travel expenses were $133,752.09 and miscellaneous were $343,529.58 for Fiscal Year 2-25. Public records obtained before the decision to not disclose records show a figure close to $310,000 for LSP travel expenses.
The LSP did not respond to a series of questions, nor did the governor’s office.
Among other things, The Rosenberg Brief asked if this same policy applied to other officials.
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