Hegseth approves request for Calif Guard troops deployed for LA riots to return to fight wildfires

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has approved the request for some California National Guard troops to end their deployment helping secure Los Angeles during the recent anti-ICE-raid riots to return to their units so they can fight wildfires. 

President Trump deployed them last month over the objection of California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

U.S. Northern Command head Gen. Gregory Guillot, the top military commander of the troops, requested that 200 troops be released. 

However, Hegseth only approved 150 troops to be returned to Joint Task Force Rattlesnake, the California National Guard’s wildfire unit.

The request was made late Monday and approved on Tuesday.

This decision came after Newsom expressed concern that the National Guard was understaffed as the state heads into peak wildfire season. 

A USNORTHCOM spokesperson told FOX News, "Task Force 51 will release approximately 150 members of the California National Guard from the Federal Protection mission today." 

The spokesperson also added that the force remains "appropriately sourced.”