Pentagon Releases 150 National Guard Troops From Federal Mission in Los Angeles Amid Wildfire Response

The Trump administration has authorized the release of 150 California National Guard troops from their federal mission protecting federal property and ICE personnel in Los Angeles, allowing them to return to wildfire fighting duties amid California's peak fire season. This decision follows significant controversy and opposition from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who criticized the large deployment as politically motivated and detrimental to wildfire suppression efforts. Since early June, nearly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines have been deployed in Los Angeles to respond to protests against federal immigration raids, a move challenged legally by California authorities. Despite the release, around 3,850 troops remain in Los Angeles, with Newsom urging the administration to send the rest home, citing that many remain idle and that the federalization has depleted essential firefighting resources. The military's Joint Task Force Rattlesnake, which specializes in wildfire prevention and suppression, has been particularly affected, operating at reduced capacity due to troop federalization. U.S. Northern Command confirmed that the force remains adequately staffed for its federal protection mission but acknowledged the need to balance resources amid California's escalating wildfire threats.