Photo: LAUREN PUENTE / AFP / Getty Images
The top military commander overseeing federal troops in Los Angeles has requested the return of 200 California National Guard members to wildfire duty. This request comes as California enters its peak wildfire season, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to the Associated Press on Monday. President Donald Trump had deployed about 4,000 National Guard troops and 800 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles in early June to manage protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, despite opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom.
General Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, submitted the request to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing urgent staffing needs for wildfire containment. Governor Newsom has expressed concerns about the impact of the deployment on the state's firefighting capabilities, noting that the National Guard's fire crews are operating at just 40 percent capacity. He emphasized the need for all available resources to protect communities during the fire season.
The deployment of federal troops has raised legal questions, including whether the Insurrection Act might be invoked to allow military forces to conduct law enforcement on U.S. soil. While the act has not been used, there have been instances where Marines temporarily detained civilians in Los Angeles. The Marines are primarily tasked with securing federal properties.
As California faces several active wildfires, including the Wolf Fire in Riverside County, the need to reassign troops to wildfire duties is pressing. Governor Newsom has urged President Trump to rescind the order and return the Guard to their critical firefighting roles. A decision from the Defense Department on General Guillot's request is still pending.