Pentagon Pulls Marines and National Guard from Los Angeles After Controversial Deployment

The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of 700 Marines and 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, ending a rare and controversial military deployment to a major U.S. city.

The troops were originally sent in June in response to widespread protests against federal immigration raids and the presence of ICE, a move that drew criticism from local and state officials who called it unnecessary and politically motivated. Many officials, including Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, condemned the deployment as a political stunt by the Trump administration, arguing that it militarized the city without justification. Reports from within the ranks indicated low morale and a lack of clear mission, with some troops questioning their purpose in Los Angeles.

The withdrawal is being hailed by critics as a victory for local governance and a rebuke of using the military for domestic political purposes.