2,000 National Guard Troops Leaving Los Angeles as Federal Deployment Scales Back

Two thousand National Guard troops are heading back to their home bases after spending the past month deployed in Los Angeles. The U.S. Department of Defense ordered their return as part of a phased scale-back of military presence in the city.

The deployment originally followed a series of protests sparked by mass deportations facilitated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which ignited political tensions between the Trump administration and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

According to federal officials, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered half of the National Guard force’s removal as Los Angeles leaders called for fewer military personnel on city streets. The withdrawal was described as part of a broader recalibration, though 2,000 National Guard troops will remain in place alongside 700 Marines, who were deployed in June.

The Trump administration has been engaged in a public battle with Governor Newsom over California’s response to the ICE-led deportation operations, with disagreements intensifying over how to handle protests and security measures in the country’s second-largest city.

While some local officials welcomed the reduced military presence, others expressed concern over ongoing tensions and the potential for renewed demonstrations.

There is no official timeline for when the remaining troops will leave Los Angeles. Both city and federal leaders said they will continue monitoring the situation, balancing public safety needs with political considerations as protests and policy disputes continue.

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