Trump LA National Guard Deployment Costs Taxpayers $120 Million, Judge Rules Illegal

California Governor Gavin Newsom has reported that President Donald Trump's deployment of over 4,200 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles this summer has cost taxpayers approximately $120 million. The expenditures include $71 million for food and necessities, $37 million for payroll, and additional costs for logistics, travel, and demobilization. The deployment was ordered after federal immigration raids sparked protests and has been criticized by Newsom as "political theater" wasting taxpayer dollars and causing hardships for military families. A federal judge ruled that the deployment was illegal, stating that the National Guard was engaged in unauthorized domestic law enforcement activities. Despite most troops being sent home, around 300 National Guard members remain in Los Angeles, with ongoing legal challenges seeking to end their presence before a key redistricting election. The Trump administration has appealed the court ruling, and similar National Guard deployments in other cities have also faced legal opposition.