In a significant decision nearly six weeks into a contentious military deployment, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it would release half of the approximately 4,000 National Guard soldiers stationed in the Los Angeles area.
This announcement follows a protracted legal dispute regarding whether the Trump administration had the authority to deploy these troops, and a wave of criticism from state and local leaders who argued that military presence was unnecessary in addressing protests related to immigration raids, which resulted in around 3,000 arrests.
President Donald Trump had defended the troop deployment as essential for maintaining order, citing incidents of unrest during the initial days of the immigration enforcement operations. However, as protests subsided—largely managed by local law enforcement—the role of the National Guard shifted to safeguarding federal buildings rather than directly engaging with protestors.
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson, announced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from what officials termed a “federal protection mission.” The troops had initially been deployed with orders that extended for 60 days, potentially lasting until early August.
“Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding,” Parnell stated at the announcement.
The federalization of over 4,000 California National Guard soldiers marked an unprecedented display of military force, which many local leaders contended only served to exacerbate tensions in the community.
Even with the planned withdrawal of 2,000 troops, approximately 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines will remain activated in the area, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to call for the complete withdrawal of federal personnel.
“Thousands of members are still federalized in Los Angeles for no reason and unable to carry out their critical duties across the state,” Newsom posted on X. “End this theater and send everyone home.”
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass also expressed her approval of the troop reduction, labeling the deployment as unnecessary. At a press conference, Bass referred to the troops as “used as props” by the Trump administration and emphasized that this development represented a victory for the city.
“This is a victory and a victory that is a result of our city standing strong and standing united,” Bass said, expressing hope that this would mark the beginning of a complete troop withdrawal.
While some deployed personnel assisted federal agents in immigration enforcement, military officials maintained that the troops had no law enforcement authority and were limited to roles involving crowd control and security. They assisted in various operations, including a recent convoy at MacArthur Park and raids on cannabis farms in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Earlier this July, the Trump administration approved the release of 150 National Guard personnel from the L.A. mission, allowing them to return to their primary duties in combating wildfires. This particular Guard unit had been operating at only 40% of its regular capacity due to the deployment in Los Angeles. Governor Newsom hailed this action as a victory, stating on X, “Our firefighters are finally returning to fight wildfires. Better late than never. Now — send the rest home.”
In June, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco ruled that President Donald Trump acted unlawfully when he mobilized thousands of California National Guard members against the state’s wishes. In a 36-page decision, Breyer indicated that Trump’s actions exceeded the scope of his statutory authority and infringed upon the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Breyer expressed concern over the implication that protests against the federal government, a fundamental civil liberty safeguarded by the First Amendment, could be interpreted as rebellion, warranting a military response.
However, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily suspended Breyer’s ruling, allowing the continued presence of the troops in Los Angeles while the case is further examined in federal court. The appellate court found that while the president has broad authority to deploy military forces in American cities, this power is not entirely unreviewable.
image source from：latimes
