WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has completed the withdrawal of federalized National Guard troops from operations in Los Angeles, ending a months-long domestic deployment that drew legal challenges and sharp criticism from California officials after the forces were sent to the city during protests over federal immigration enforcement.
The withdrawal was finalized by the end of January, according to officials cited by multiple U.S. media reports, concluding a mission that began when President Donald Trump ordered thousands of California National Guard members into Los Angeles under federal authority despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom and local leaders.
The deployment followed demonstrations triggered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement workplace raids. At its peak, roughly 4,000 National Guard troops, supported by about 700 active-duty Marines, were assigned to protect federal personnel and property. Federal officials said the troops were not conducting civilian law enforcement but could temporarily detain individuals until law enforcement officers arrived.
The Pentagon began scaling back the force in stages during 2025. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth first ordered the release of about 2,000 Guardsmen, saying conditions in Los Angeles had improved, before additional reductions left only a small contingent to guard federal facilities. The remaining federalized Guard members were subsequently withdrawn, ending the mission in the city.
California officials had consistently opposed the deployment, arguing that local and state authorities were capable of maintaining public safety and that the federal mobilization represented an unnecessary intrusion into state responsibilities. Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta challenged the action in court, contending that the federalization of the state's National Guard exceeded presidential authority.
The Trump administration defended the deployment throughout the operation, maintaining that the troops were needed to safeguard federal facilities and personnel during periods of unrest associated with immigration enforcement protests. Pentagon officials previously said the mission had contributed to restoring order and justified the phased drawdown as conditions stabilized.
The withdrawal leaves no federalized National Guard troops assigned to operations in Los Angeles, although National Guard personnel continue to serve elsewhere under separate federal or state missions. The administration has continued to rely on other federal agencies for immigration enforcement activities in California and other parts of the United States.
