US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are greeted by California Governor Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025, to visit the region devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – President Donald Trump’s partial drawdown of National Guard troops in Los Angeles has done little to ease tensions between the White House and California’s leadership, as Governor Gavin Newsom continues to demand the full return of personnel needed to battle wildfires across the state.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Northern Command announced the release of 150 California National Guard members from their federal protection mission in Los Angeles. The troops had been deployed in early June as part of Trump’s response to mass protests following aggressive ICE raids in immigrant communities. The deployments came over the objections of Newsom and other California leaders, who argued the troops were being misused.
In a sharply worded post on social media, Newsom dismissed the move as insufficient and politically motivated. “.@realDonaldTrump caved,” Newsom wrote. “Our firefighters are finally returning to fight wildfires. Better late than never. Now — send the rest home. Nearly 5,000 soldiers — including police, paramedics, and first responders — are still sitting idle in L.A. for nothing.”
The dispute underscores a broader battle over control of the National Guard during a time of concurrent crises. As wildfires threaten homes and infrastructure across California, the state’s firefighting crews remain critically understaffed. According to state officials, National Guard fire teams are operating at just 40 percent capacity, even as peak fire season begins.
The 4,000 National Guard troops and 800 U.S. Marines Trump deployed in June were initially tasked with protecting federal buildings amid protests that have since calmed. Critics now question the necessity of maintaining such a large military presence.
Newsom has repeatedly accused Trump of using the Guard as a “political prop” in his broader crackdown on immigration. “These men and women signed up to serve — not to be Trump’s political props,” the governor said in a statement Tuesday. “Letting a few of them return to fight fires is a step in the right direction, but thousands of soldiers are still being blocked from their real work.”
Legal questions remain unresolved. Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed suit in June alleging the president illegally commandeered state forces. Though a lower court sided with Newsom, a federal appeals court allowed Trump to retain control.
As the legal fight continues, California remains caught in a tug-of-war between federal priorities and urgent local needs — with thousands of trained emergency responders still locked into a mission many see as unnecessary.
