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The Trump administration has ordered approximately 2,000 California National Guard members to begin demobilizing from their federal mission in Los Angeles, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. This marks a partial withdrawal more than a month after President Donald Trump deployed the troops despite fierce opposition from state officials.
The National Guard members were federalized in early June under Title 10 authority, which permits the president to activate the units during instances of "rebellion" or when regular forces cannot adequately enforce federal law. The deployment immediately sparked a legal and political battle between the Trump administration and California leadership.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom had strongly opposed the federal activation, characterizing it as an "unprecedented power grab" and filing a lawsuit to block the deployment. The legal challenge saw mixed results, with a federal judge initially ruling in Newsom's favor before an appeals court determined the president likely acted within his constitutional authority.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the partial withdrawal reflects progress in the mission's objectives. "Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding," Parnell stated.
The demobilization affects roughly half of the deployed National Guard members, though Newsom continues pressing for complete withdrawal of all federal forces. In a statement Tuesday, the governor criticized the extended deployment as politically motivated.
"For more than a month, the National Guard has been pulled away from their families, communities and civilian work to serve as political pawns for the President in Los Angeles," Newsom said. "While nearly 2,000 of them are starting to demobilize, the remaining guards members continue without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities."
The federal deployment stemmed from disputes over the protection of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, with federal officials arguing that local law enforcement had failed to provide adequate security. Local officials have denied these claims, maintaining that existing security measures were sufficient.
During a recent visit to Los Angeles, Vice President J.D. Vance defended the federal response as "very much necessary," stating that conditions in the area had improved since the National Guard's arrival.
The partial withdrawal comes amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and California officials over federal immigration enforcement and state sovereignty issues. The remaining Guard members continue their federal mission with no announced timeline for complete withdrawal.
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