Trump‑Federalized California Guard Troops Exit Los Angeles Ahead of Court Order

Dozens of California National Guard members under President Trump’s command left the Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles just after midnight on Sunday, hours before a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals deadline that required them to be gone by noon Monday.

What prompted the withdrawal?

Video taken at the site shows a tactical truck and four white passenger vans departing the building, which had been guarded by armed soldiers since June. Administration officials have not confirmed the troops’ status, but protester Rosa Martinez, who has been demonstrating outside the building for months, said that “all of them left – there was not a single one that stayed.”

Legal backdrop

The move follows a late‑Friday appellate order that softened a more restrictive lower‑court ruling that would have forced the president to relinquish command of the state’s forces. Trump had federalized thousands of California Guard troops in June to address unrest over immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta welcomed the development, noting it would be the first time in six months that no military personnel are deployed on Los Angeles streets, though he stressed the decision is not final.

Broader fight over federalized troops

The case is part of a nationwide legal battle over the president’s authority to keep state National Guard units under federal control. The same three‑judge panel that issued Friday’s order had previously allowed the California deployment under an obscure subsection of the law, establishing a “great level of deference” for similar actions.

That deference, sometimes called the “Newsom standard,” has faced criticism. In October, the 7th Circuit held that the administration’s evidence was insufficient to block a deployment in Illinois, and that ruling is now before the Supreme Court. In November, the 9th Circuit vacated its earlier approval of the Oregon federalization, citing alleged misrepresentations by the Justice Department; a larger appellate panel will decide that case early next year.

Justice Department lawyers continue to argue that federalized troops remain under the president’s command indefinitely, with Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric McArthur stating there is “not a word in the statute that talks about how long they can remain in federal service.”

Currently, about 300 California Guard members remain under federal control, roughly 100 of whom were still active in Los Angeles as of last week, but court orders now bar their deployment in both California and Oregon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were the National Guard troops in Los Angeles?

They were federalized in June by President Trump to address unrest related to immigration enforcement and had been patrolling the Roybal Federal Building since then.

What did the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals order?

The court issued an order that the federalized troops must be removed from Los Angeles by noon Monday, though it softened an earlier, stricter order that would have required the president to give up command of the state forces.

What is the status of the federalized soldiers now?

About 300 California Guard members remain under federal control, but court orders currently bar their deployment in California and Oregon, leaving their future status unresolved.

What do you think the next legal move could mean for the balance of federal and state authority over the National Guard?