Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
A top US military official has indicated that 200 National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles in response to immigration-related protests should be reassigned to wildfire-fighting duties as the state’s fire season begins.
Some shit you should know before you read: A few weeks back, large-scale protests and riots broke out in LA following a series of federal immigration raids across the city, which targeted illegal immigrants that ICE claims were “criminal illegal aliens.” The raids, conducted without local coordination, sparked outrage in Latino-heavy communities and led to three days of escalating unrest. Rioters clashed with police, blocked major freeways, and set fire to self-driving vehicles, prompting law enforcement to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets, and mass arrests. California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, accused President Trump of deliberately provoking violence to justify the deployment of federal troops, calling it a manufactured crisis aimed at undermining state authority and stirring public fear. They also claimed that local law enforcement could handle the situation and that the National Guard was not necessary. To the contrary, President Trump accused California leadership of failing to act against lawlessness and vowed to restore “law and order” in Los Angeles.
Getting into it: In a notable development, General Gregory Guillot, head of US Northern Command, formally requested that 200 National Guard troops currently deployed in Los Angeles be reassigned to wildfire-fighting duties in California. According to the Associated Press, Guillot initiated the conversation with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid growing concerns about the state’s ability to respond to an increasingly volatile fire season. According to a US official who spoke anonymously, while Guillot has advocated for the troop shift, the final decision on redeployment rests with the Adjutant General of the California National Guard.
The timing of the request comes as California has already entered its peak wildfire season, with multiple fires burning thousands of acres across the state. The state’s elite wildfire-fighting unit, Task Force Rattlesnake, is operating at almost half of its normal capacity, with the majority of its crews diverted to Los Angeles for protest-related duties.
Governor Newsom, who is battling in the courts over Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard, stressed that the loss of these personnel is placing additional strain on Cal Fire and compromising the state’s readiness.
