US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, effectively halving the contentious deployment. This move comes after President Donald Trump deployed thousands of National Guard members and hundreds of Marines to the city last month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps, a decision strongly opposed by Los Angeles city leaders and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the "lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding," leading to the decision to release the troops. However, Mayor Karen Bass credited "peaceful protests and legal action" for the withdrawal, calling it a "retreat." This marks the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor. California is currently challenging the deployment in court, arguing that Trump overstepped his authority.