The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of an additional 1,350 California National Guard troops from Los Angeles, further scaling down a controversial deployment initiated by President Donald Trump in early June. The move comes amid mounting political criticism and legal challenges from state officials who opposed the military presence in the city.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on July 30 that the troops were being recalled, leaving approximately 250 personnel in Los Angeles to continue protecting federal buildings and staff. The decision follows an earlier withdrawal of 2,000 Guardsmen two weeks ago, part of a drawdown of the force that at its peak included nearly 5,000 troops — most of them National Guard, with 700 U.S. Marines also deployed to guard federal property.
The 60-day deployment, which began on June 7, was aimed at supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and securing federal infrastructure amid widespread protests and unrest following immigration raids in Southern California. The mission’s stated goals included protecting federal agents and deterring violence, but critics argued it amounted to political overreach.
Political Fallout and Legal Challenges
California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and several Democratic lawmakers, denounced the deployment from the outset. They claimed the use of the National Guard to support immigration raids and suppress protests was a misuse of military force and a politically motivated maneuver by the Trump administration.
In response, Governor Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the deployment. Although a San Francisco appeals court ultimately allowed the troops to remain, political pressure against the operation continued to mount.
Reacting to the latest withdrawal, Newsom said in a post on X (formerly Twitter):
“President Trump is realizing that his political theater backfired. This militarization was always unnecessary and deeply unpopular.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also welcomed the move, calling the initial deployment a “political stunt.” She posted on X that the withdrawal marked a “win” for the city and vowed to continue pressing for the complete removal of all troops.
Pentagon Response
Defense Secretary Hegseth defended the operation, framing the withdrawal as a sign of mission success rather than retreat.
“You’re welcome, Mayor. These brave troops are redeploying because their mission was so successful. You should be thanking them for saving your city from mobs and chaos,” he said, adding, “We will continue to support law enforcement — even when you won’t.”
Trump previously claimed that without the military presence, “Los Angeles would be burning right now,” asserting that the deployment prevented widespread violence.
Outlook
With the scheduled end of the 60-day deployment nearing, political debate continues over the use of federal troops in domestic operations. While the administration has insisted the move was necessary to restore order, critics say it represents a dangerous precedent in militarizing civilian law enforcement, particularly during politically sensitive operations like immigration enforcement.
The remaining 250 troops are expected to stay in Los Angeles until the full expiration of the deployment period, unless further changes are announced.
