After weeks of pressure from Governor Gavin Newsom, President Donald Trump has allowed California’s wildfire crews to return to their duties. However, nearly 5,000 soldiers, including members of the California National Guard, remain stationed in Los Angeles as part of a federalization effort that has been criticized for its impact on local services.
Governor Newsom expressed his concerns: “These men and women signed up to serve — not to be Trump’s political props. Letting a few of them return to fight fires is a step in the right direction, but thousands of soldiers are still being blocked from their real work as police officers, paramedics, summer school teachers, and public servants. It’s time to send them all home.”
Task Force Rattlesnake, consisting of over 300 Cal Guard members who collaborate with CAL FIRE during peak fire season, was significantly reduced due to the deployment order. The task force was operating at just 40% capacity while wildfires were active across the state.
The federalization also affected other sectors. According to estimates by the California National Guard:
– 385 are medical and first responders
– 370 are service workers
– 361 are contractors or work in building trades
– 355 are police and law enforcement officials
– 158 are civil servants
– 170 work in technology
– 158 are educators
– 97 work in agriculture
Additionally, about one-third of CalGuard’s Counterdrug Task Force members have been reassigned under Trump’s orders. This shift affects efforts against transnational criminal organizations at ports of entry where significant drug seizures have occurred since operations began in 2021.
The situation arises amid discussions on Trump’s budget proposal which includes cuts to wildfire prevention funding and public safety efforts while increasing spending on controversial raids.
