U.S. military asks Trump administration to return some National Guard troops to California command
The military commander of the National Guard troops deployed to respond to immigration-related unrest in the Los Angeles area has asked the Trump administration to return 200 troops to California’s command, a U.S.official told The Times.
The request, first reported by the Associated Press, comes as fire season returns and the National Guard unit assigned to combating wildfires is at just 40% of its regular staffing levels, according to Gov.Gavin Newsom’s office.
The level of protest-related unrest has also decreased since demonstrations began on June 6 in response to a series of surprise immigration raids.Climate & Environment Eight of CalGuard’s 14 firefighting crews — known as Task Force Rattlesnake — have been deployed to Los Angeles as part of Trump’s federalization of the Guard, according to Gov.
Gavin Newsom.Although the head of the Guard’s U.S.Northern Command, Gen.
Gregory Guillot, initiated the conversation with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to return the 200 troops, the decision about where they will be redeployed rests with the adjutant general of the California National Guard, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as no decision has been announced publicly.The California Military Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on where the troops would be sent should the request be approved.One of those who has been most outspoken about demanding the return of the National Guard to California command is Newsom, who has called President Trump’s federalization of more than 4,000 troops illegal and continues to battle their deployment in court.
“We’re glad to see the top military commander overseeing Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles agree: it’s time to pull back National Guard troops and get them back to their critical firefighting duties,” Newsom said in a Monday statement.“President Trump: listen to your military leaders and stop the political theater.Last we...