Defense Secretary Hegseth has ordered 150 National Guard troops to leave security duties in Los Angeles and report for California wildfire duty, despite President Trump’s continued insistence that troops are needed to maintain order during immigration protests.
Key Takeaways
- 150 California National Guard troops have been released from a federal security mission in Los Angeles to combat escalating wildfires
- President Trump originally deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 800 Marines to Los Angeles against Governor Newsom’s wishes
- The redeployment follows recommendations from Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command
- Despite the release of 150 troops, 3,850 National Guard members remain in Los Angeles to maintain security during immigration protests
- California’s firefighting capacity has been severely impacted by the federal deployment, with Gov. Newsom claiming capacity reduced to 40%
Critical Resources Redeployed as Wildfire Season Intensifies
As California enters peak wildfire season, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the release of 150 California National Guard troops from their federal security mission in Los Angeles. The decision follows a request from U.S. Northern Command’s Gen. Gregory Guillot, who initially sought the return of 200 National Guard members to wildfire duty with Joint Task Force Rattlesnake. This partial redeployment addresses mounting concerns about California’s diminished firefighting capabilities while maintaining federal security operations in Los Angeles.
The redeployment represents only a fraction of the approximately 4,000 California National Guard troops and 800 active-duty Marines that President Trump deployed to Los Angeles in response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The President has maintained that the federal presence is necessary amid what he describes as an unprecedented security situation. Despite releasing 150 troops, Task Force 51 remains “appropriately sourced” to fulfill its federal protection mission under the command of Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman.
“There has been an invasion,” President Trump stated, justifying the continued military presence in Los Angeles.
Tensions Between Federal and State Priorities
The partial redeployment highlights ongoing friction between federal security concerns and state emergency management priorities. Governor Gavin Newsom has repeatedly criticized the deployment, arguing that it has severely hampered California’s ability to respond to wildfire threats. According to Newsom, the federal mission has reduced the state’s National Guard firefighting capacity to just 40%, leaving critical fire prevention and response capabilities dangerously understaffed at the height of fire season.
Newsom’s office has been particularly vocal about what they view as the politicization of the National Guard. “These men and women signed up to serve, not to be Trump’s political props,” a statement from the Governor’s office declared.
Military Leadership Navigates Complex Deployment Questions
The deployment has raised significant legal and operational questions about the use of military forces for domestic security operations. While the Insurrection Act has not been formally invoked, there have been reports of Marines temporarily detaining civilians in Los Angeles, further complicating the legal landscape. Military leadership has had to carefully balance federal directives with practical considerations about resource allocation and mission requirements, leading to the current compromise of partial troop redeployment.
“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,” Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated during recent congressional testimony, presenting a more measured assessment than the President’s characterization.
A USNORTHCOM spokesperson confirmed the redeployment decision: “Task Force 51 will release approximately 150 members of the California National Guard from the Federal Protection mission today.” This careful wording emphasizes that while some troops are being released for wildfire duty, the federal security mission remains fully operational with the remaining 3,850 National Guard members.
Looking Forward: Balancing Security and Emergency Response
As California’s wildfire season progresses, the tension between federal security priorities and state emergency management needs will likely continue. The partial redeployment of National Guard troops represents a limited compromise that addresses immediate wildfire concerns while maintaining the President’s security directive in Los Angeles. With no clear end date for the federal mission in sight, California officials will continue pushing for the return of additional Guard members to their traditional emergency response roles.
The situation underscores a broader challenge for the administration: maintaining border security and public order while ensuring states have sufficient resources to address natural disasters and other emergencies. As both immigration tensions and wildfire threats persist, finding the right balance between these competing priorities will remain a significant challenge for federal and state authorities alike.
