The Pentagon has pulled back the majority of National Guard troops stationed in Los Angeles, a move signaling the end of a controversial deployment sparked by immigration protests. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the removal of 1,350 troops, leaving only 250 National Guard members in the city to guard federal buildings and support immigration enforcement operations.
This latest development marks a turning point in the federal government’s presence in California’s largest city, as tensions between state and federal leadership continue to mount. The move comes after weeks of backlash from local officials who argued the deployment was unnecessary and inflammatory. Critics say the presence of military forces only heightened unrest, particularly in neighborhoods already strained by immigration raids and detentions.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass celebrated the Pentagon’s decision, calling it “another win for Los Angeles” in a statement on X. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s deployment of federal forces, also spoke out. “The women and men of our military deserve more than to be used as props in the federal government’s propaganda machine,” Newsom said. He criticized what he described as political theater and welcomed the withdrawal as a return to lawful governance.
The original decision to send in more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines was made in June amid widespread protests against the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement. Despite pushback from state and city leaders, the federal government moved forward with a rapid deployment of personnel to guard key federal installations, including the downtown ICE office and detention center.
Although most of the soldiers remained at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, they were occasionally deployed during raids. One such instance occurred on July 7 at MacArthur Park — a dense, immigrant-heavy neighborhood — where armed agents and mounted troops were seen escorting ICE officers. The incident ended abruptly after reports of resistance and confrontation.
As of this week, the military drawdown is mostly complete. The remaining 250 troops will stay on-site to secure federal property and assist in ongoing operations, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. “We greatly appreciate the support of the more than 5,000 Guardsmen and Marines who mobilized to Los Angeles to defend Federal functions against the rampant lawlessness occurring in the city,” Parnell said in a statement.
The move follows a legal tug-of-war. While a lower court ruled in favor of Governor Newsom, demanding the return of control over the Guard to the state, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked that order — allowing Trump’s directive to remain in effect until further review.
Despite this, the Pentagon’s decision to scale back marks a significant de-escalation and may pave the way for renewed debate over the future use of federal forces in domestic operations. With immigration raids continuing and protests flaring up sporadically, all eyes remain on Los Angeles — a symbolic battleground in the ongoing clash between federal power and local autonomy.
