Pete Hegseth Calls for Withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard Soldiers from Los Angeles

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops who had been mobilized in response to protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids. This decision was communicated by a Pentagon official on Tuesday. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell remarked, “Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding.”

Initially, 4,000 National Guard troops were deployed following a series of immigration raids that incited violent protests across the city, resulting in numerous arrests and the use of so-called “less lethal” weapons to restore order. The deployment by the Trump administration faced strong criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who condemned the action as an “assault” on democracy and drew parallels to authoritarian regimes that target the vulnerable. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has also expressed her disapproval of the National Guard’s deployment, labeling it as an unnecessary overreach.

She stated that the troops’ removal was the result of Los Angeles residents coming together in peaceful protests and organizing rallies, ultimately leading to legal action against the Trump administration. The state of California even pursued legal action over the mobilization, with Attorney General Rob Bonta arguing that it was unlawful and infringed on the governor’s authority. An appeals panel ultimately ruled that President Trump acted within his statutory authority when federalizing the troops, marking the first instance since 1965 where a president has done so without a governor’s consent.

As it stands, half of the troops will remain in the LA area alongside approximately 700 Marines deployed by Hegseth. The military personnel are permitted to detain individuals posing a threat to federal agents or property, but they cannot make arrests independently; that responsibility lies solely with local police.