Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the release of 2,000 of the roughly 4,000 federalized California National Guard troops in Los Angeles, citing subsiding lawlessness.
• About 2,000 Guardsmen and 700 active-duty Marines remain under federal orders to secure federal buildings and support immigration enforcement operations in the city.
• California’s ongoing lawsuit argues that the president overstepped his authority by activating the Guard without gubernatorial approval, and the Ninth Circuit has kept its stay in place.
• State leaders warn that diverting Guard units to the Los Angeles mission strained wildfire response capabilities during peak fire season.
• Administration officials maintain the military presence was essential to protect federal property and personnel during protests that followed early June ICE raids.