Pentagon Withdraws Over 1,300 National Guard Troops from Los Angeles

The Pentagon has substantially reduced the National Guard presence in Los Angeles, recalling about 1,350 California National Guardsmen, with approximately 250 troops remaining to protect federal personnel and property amid ongoing immigration enforcement operations. This marks a continued drawdown after previous withdrawals of 2,000 Guardsmen and 700 Marines, following President Trump's June 2025 deployment intended to suppress protests and secure federal buildings during immigration raids. The deployment faced strong opposition from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who criticized it as an overreach and political tactic that escalated tensions. Newsom, who filed a lawsuit against the deployment, welcomed the drawdown, calling the militarization unnecessary and highlighting its negative economic and societal effects. Mayor Bass described the troop reductions as a victory for Los Angeles and vowed to continue pressure for a complete withdrawal. The Pentagon emphasized that the remaining troops' role is to safeguard federal functions while acknowledging the significant demobilization of nearly 5,000 service members since the peak of the deployment.