Pentagon Orders National Guard Withdrawal from Los Angeles Amidst State Objections and Wildfire Concerns
Pentagon orders 2,000 National Guard troops withdrawn from Los Angeles, citing restored order. This followed state opposition and raised concerns about California's wildfire season staffing.
FortuneLos Angeles mayor celebrates ‘retreat’ as Pentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in city
NPRPentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles
Epoch TimesHalf of 4,000 National Guardsmen Deployed to LA to Return Home
Al JazeeraPentagon withdraws 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles
Overview
Around 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were initially deployed to Los Angeles in early June to protect federal buildings and personnel amidst ongoing protests.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass strongly opposed the federal deployment, criticizing the intervention and its perceived intent to instill fear.
The Pentagon ordered 2,000 National Guard troops withdrawn from Los Angeles, citing decreased lawlessness and restored order, partly attributed to Mayor Bass's citywide curfew.
Governor Newsom accused President Trump of potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act by deploying California National Guard troops against his objections, despite courts allowing Trump control.
The withdrawal raised significant concerns about California's peak wildfire season, with Governor Newsom warning of potential National Guard understaffing due to troops being pulled from Los Angeles.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the troop withdrawal by emphasizing the controversial nature of the initial federal deployment and the strong opposition from California officials. They highlight the withdrawal as a "rollback" or "retreat," suggesting it was influenced by state resistance and legal challenges, rather than solely a federal decision based on conditions.