In an unprecedented military deployment, U.S. Marines and California National Guard troops were dispatched by President Donald Trump to combat so-called “violent, insurrectionist mobs” in Los Angeles. However, as days turn into weeks, their primary struggle appears to be the monotony of standing guard rather than any actual confrontation.
On a recent day outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood, a Marine, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the press, shared his experience. “There’s not much to do,” he remarked. Most of his duties involved controlling access for federal workers and visitors at the Veterans Affairs office.
The initial protests that erupted due to federal immigration raids in downtown Los Angeles have significantly diminished. More than five weeks after the Trump administration executed its deployment against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the visibility and role of these military forces have sharply reduced. Most troops have withdrawn to military bases in Orange County.
Recently, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made the decision to release 2,000 National Guard troops, leading leaders like Bass and Newsom to call for the complete withdrawal of the remaining personnel—around 2,000 California National Guard members and 700 Marines.
Newsom expressed frustration, claiming that thousands of troop members are still federalized in Los Angeles without a stated purpose, grounding essential state missions. He criticized President Trump for using National Guard troops as “political pawns” and urged for a cessation to what he termed as a political “theater.”
In an address to the press, Bass echoed similar sentiments regarding the necessity of troop presence. She stated that the primary function of the troops seemed to be guarding federal buildings “that frankly didn’t need to be guarded.” She pointed out the sacrifices these service members make, having to leave families and other responsibilities, highlighting the unusual situation: “We have had no problems for weeks, so why were they here?”
As morale among troops appears to be wavering, Steve Woolford, a resource counselor for GI Rights Hotline, reports a dramatic decline in calls from service members in the last month. “They sound like they’re sitting around bored without much to do,” Woolford added, noting that troops seem to be content with the lack of action despite feelings of purposelessness.
According to military and gubernatorial sources who spoke under anonymity, the majority of National Guard personnel are stationed at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. At the base, a large tent city has emerged with dining facilities and living quarters for the troops. Some members were seen participating in light recreation, such as touch football and exercising in casual attire, while others remained in full combat gear.
While some California National Guard members have engaged in tense missions alongside federal immigration agents — including operations at farms and warehouses — most troops have not been actively involved in law enforcement duties over the past few weeks.
A source from Newsom’s office indicated that about 90% of the National Guard troops in the L.A. region were not engaged in daily operations, leading to significant underutilization. From an estimated total of 4,000 troops, only around 120 were involved in daily duties, including the security of federal buildings, while a few hundred were on standby for potential rapid-response missions.
This leaves around 88% of the deployed guards, or approximately 3,000 personnel, effectively sidelined. Neither the Pentagon nor Task Force 51, the military unit operational in the Los Angeles area, provided specific data regarding how many troops are actually involved in supportive roles or immigration enforcement activities.
The silence around the operation’s necessity raises further concerns. Jennifer Kavanagh, the director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, noted that military involvement in Los Angeles appears unnecessary given the lack of evidence supporting a requirement for their presence. She highlighted a growing need for National Guard resources in other regions of California, particularly during wildfire season.
Kori Schake, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, concurred, stating that the forces are meant to be trained for combat, not engaged in what she referred to as “performative policing,” which detracts from their primary mission.
This military deployment in Los Angeles, which began on June 8, was initiated shortly after President Donald Trump’s announcement of sending 2,000 Guard troops to quell unrest amid protests and volatility in response to immigration enforcement. Despite local objections, the deployment was expanded to include 700 Marines shortly afterward, later culminating in a task force comprised of 4,800 personnel.
Newsom publicly denounced the diversion of National Guard troops from vital missions such as wildfire control, citing significant drops in operational staffing levels for the units tasked with those responsibilities. With the deployment stretching to 60 days, questions of legality arise involving the federal government’s move to commandeer California’s National Guard against the will of state officials.
Governor Newsom, working with state officials, initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding these actions, arguing for the return of control over the National Guard to California and invoking constitutional rights. A federal judge in San Francisco ruled in favor of the state on June 12, stating that the federal government’s actions were illegal; however, a subsequent appeal allowed troop retention during ongoing legal processes.
While there have been moments of tension, such as immigration enforcement accompanied by soldiers — scenarios that advocacy groups like the GI Rights Hotline warn could escalate dangerously — many service members on the ground are grappling with a sense of futility in their assignment. Woolford stated that members have often expressed concerns over the nature of their duties, with some away from their families and battling against values against using force on civilians.
The unfolding situation in Los Angeles represents a pivotal moment in discussions about the role of the military in domestic affairs and immigration enforcement. As the case progresses through the courts and the troop presence remains, local leaders and residents continue to voice concerns over the implications of militarizing urban environments.
As tensions linger and the utility of military forces in Los Angeles comes into question, one Marine summed it up succinctly: “That’s just orders. We do what we’re told — it’s the system.”
image source from：latimes
