Pentagon Ends Half of National Guard Deployment in Los Angeles

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it is ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles. This move accounts for nearly half of the soldiers sent to the city to manage protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The deployment, which began in early June, involved roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines. The sudden end of the 60-day deployment raised questions about the reasons behind it and the duration of the remaining troops' stay in the region.

In late June, the top military commander overseeing the troops in Los Angeles requested that 200 of them be reassigned to wildfire fighting duties. This request came amid warnings from California Governor Gavin Newsom that the Guard was understaffed as the state entered its peak wildfire season. The end of the deployment also follows a controversial operation in MacArthur Park, where federal authorities and National Guard troops arrived with guns and horses. This operation was abruptly halted, and local officials suggested it was intended to instill fear rather than serve a clear purpose.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell attributed the decision to the troops' efforts in restoring order. "Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding," Parnell stated. The deployment was initially triggered by widespread protests in response to Trump’s decision to send the Guard to the city. On June 8, thousands of protesters took to the streets, blocking a major freeway and leading to the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs by law enforcement. The protests resulted in significant property damage, including several Waymo robotaxis being set on fire.

Mayor Karen Bass, who had set a curfew for about a week to protect businesses and restore order, applauded the troops' departure. "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 said. Bass emphasized that the National Guard’s primary mission had been to guard two buildings that "frankly didn’t need to be guarded." She expressed hope that this "experiment with the lives of people ends here."

On Tuesday afternoon, there was no visible military presence outside the federal complex downtown, which had been the center of early protests. The deployment of National Guard troops was initially ordered by President Donald Trump against the wishes of Governor Newsom, who sued to stop it. Newsom argued that Trump violated the law by deploying the troops despite his opposition and that the deployment likely violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil. A federal judge initially ruled the deployment illegal, but an appeals court overturned that decision, leaving control of the troops with the federal government. The federal court is set to hear arguments next month on whether the troops are violating the Posse Comitatus Act.

Following the Pentagon’s decision, Newsom criticized the deployment, stating that it had pulled troops away from their families and civilian work "to serve as political pawns for the President." He called on Trump and the Department of Defense to end the deployment and send everyone home. The remaining troops, according to Newsom, continue without a clear mission or direction, and he expressed concern about their ability to return to help their communities.