Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reassigned 150 California National Guard troops from securing Los Angeles against immigration protests to fighting wildfires, leaving thousands still deployed in a federal mission that Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned as a politically-motivated drain on essential state resources.
Key Takeaways
- 150 California National Guard troops have been released from federal security duty in Los Angeles to assist with wildfire containment amid peak fire season.
- The reassignment follows a request from Gen. Gregory Guillot, who had originally asked for 200 troops to be returned to wildfire duty.
- 3,850 National Guard troops remain deployed in Los Angeles as part of President Trump’s controversial federal security mission.
- Governor Newsom has criticized the deployment, stating it has reduced California’s National Guard fire crews to 40% capacity.
- The original deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops plus 800 Marines was ordered by President Trump in response to immigration protests.
Partial Relief for California’s Firefighting Capacity
The Pentagon announced Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the release of 150 California National Guard troops from their federal security mission in Los Angeles. These personnel will now rejoin wildfire containment efforts as California enters its peak fire season. The decision comes after Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, recommended returning some troops to the state’s Joint Task Force Rattlesnake wildfire unit, which has been severely understaffed since President Trump deployed thousands of Guard members to Los Angeles.
While the reallocation provides some relief for firefighting efforts, it represents only a fraction of the 4,000 California National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles by President Trump in response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The deployment has created a significant capacity gap in California’s ability to respond to its annual wildfire threat, with Governor Newsom’s office claiming the state’s National Guard fire crews have been reduced to just 40% of normal strength.
Trump’s “Invasion” Response Continues Despite Criticism
The massive federal deployment in Los Angeles came as President Trump declared the situation at the southern border an “invasion” requiring military intervention. “There has been an invasion,” Trump stated, justifying the deployment of both National Guard troops and active-duty Marines to the city. Despite releasing 150 troops for wildfire duty, the Pentagon confirmed that Task Force 51, responsible for protecting federal personnel and property, remains “appropriately sourced” with 3,850 National Guard members still on duty in Los Angeles.
“I don’t see any foreign, state-sponsored folks invading, but I’ll be mindful of the fact that there have been some border issues,” said Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The deployment has raised serious legal questions about the use of military forces domestically and the invocation of emergency powers under the Insurrection Act. While the act has not been formally invoked, reports indicate that Marines have temporarily detained civilians in Los Angeles, further inflaming tensions between federal authorities and state leaders. The situation has also prompted congressional inquiries about the potential nationwide deployment of military forces to address immigration issues.
State vs. Federal Control Battle Intensifies
Governor Newsom has been vocal in his opposition to the federal deployment since its inception, arguing that it undermines California’s sovereignty and diverts critical resources from pressing state needs. The wildfire crisis has provided Newsom with a concrete example of the deployment’s negative impact on state operations. His office issued a statement criticizing the continued presence of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, even after the release of 150 members for firefighting duty.
“These men and women signed up to serve — not to be Trump’s political props,” Newsom’s office stated.
The Pentagon’s decision to release only 150 troops, rather than the 200 requested by Gen. Guillot, indicates the administration’s determination to maintain a strong federal presence in Los Angeles despite state objections. Task Force 51, led by Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman continues its mission of protecting federal assets in the city, with USNORTHCOM confirming that “Task Force 51 will release approximately 150 members of the California National Guard from the Federal Protection mission today.” This partial concession does little to address Newsom’s broader concerns about federal overreach and the diversion of National Guard resources from their primary role of serving state needs.
