The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it is terminating the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, which constituted nearly half of the military personnel sent to the city in response to protests regarding President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines have been stationed in Los Angeles since early June, but the reasons behind the abrupt end to the 60-day deployment remain unclear.
In late June, the chief military commander overseeing the troops requested a transfer of 200 National Guard members back to wildfire fighting duties, as California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that the Guard was understaffed amid the peak wildfire season.
This decision to end part of the deployment comes just a week after a controversial operation at MacArthur Park, where federal authorities and National Guard troops arrived with weapons and horses. The operation ended unexpectedly, and while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not clarify its purpose or confirm any arrests, local officials expressed concern that it seemed intended to instill fear in the community.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell expressed gratitude for the troops’ service, stating, “Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding.”
On June 8, public outrage had erupted in Los Angeles as thousands of protesters took to the streets against Trump’s deployment of the National Guard, leading to the blocking of a major freeway. Law enforcement responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs, resulting in several confrontations and multiple vehicles, including Waymo robotaxis, set on fire.
In the days that followed, a curfew was enacted by Mayor Karen Bass, aimed at restoring order and protecting local businesses following the unrest. In recent weeks, protests have shifted significantly to smaller gatherings focused on arrests, marking a decline in larger demonstrations.
Bass welcomed the decision to withdraw troops, attributing the outcome to the collective efforts of the Los Angeles community, stating, “This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong. We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court — all of this led to today’s retreat.”
She emphasized that the community would continue to make its voice heard until changes are made not just in LA but across the country.
In response to the troops’ deployment, Bass criticized the necessity of their presence, stating that their primary mission had been to guard two buildings that “frankly didn’t need to be guarded.”
Reflecting on the situation, she said, “I am hoping that this experiment with the lives of people ends here.”
On the day following the Pentagon’s announcement, there was no visible military presence at the federal complex downtown, which had previously been a focal point of protests. In addition to guarding buildings, soldiers had also been accompanying federal agents on immigration operations.
President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard deployment against the wishes of Governor Newsom, who attempted to halt it through legal action. Newsom argued that Trump had violated the law by deploying National Guard troops without his approval and indicated that the deployment could potentially violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids military forces from engaging in civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.
An early ruling by a federal judge supported Newsom’s claims, deeming the Guard’s deployment illegal and an overstep of Trump’s authority. However, an appeals court later overturned that decision, confirming that control of the troops remained with the federal government.
The federal court is scheduled to hear arguments next month concerning whether the deployment of the National Guard troops contradicted the Posse Comitatus Act.
The original 60-day deployment could be adjusted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at any time to respond to evolving circumstances on the ground, according to legal filings made by the Trump administration.
Following the recent decision, Governor Newsom released a statement criticizing the National Guard’s deployment in Los Angeles as an exploitation of troops for political purposes, emphasizing that their service had been diverted from their families and communities.
He stated that the remaining troops were “without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities.”
Newsom concluded his statement by calling for the immediate withdrawal of all remaining troops, urging President Trump and the Department of Defense to put an end to this “theater.”
image source from：npr
