Troops Deployed in LA Face Rising Morale Concerns
The recent deployment of troops to Los Angeles by **President Trump** has triggered significant distress among soldiers and their families, fueling worries about the mission’s legality, family impacts, and potential effects on military readiness.
Soldiers Express Deep Concerns
Ever since **President Trump** took control of the California National Guard and deployed thousands of troops to Los Angeles, the GI Rights Hotline has been inundated with calls from concerned service members and their relatives. Some are agonizing over the deployment’s legality, which is presently being litigated in federal court, according to **Steve Woolford**, a resource counselor. Others believe the Guard shouldn’t participate in federal immigration raids, as they fear for family members who might be affected.
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“They don’t want to deport their uncle or their wife or their brother-in-law,”
—**Steve Woolford**, Resource Counselor
Amid these protests, the city has been described as increasingly quiet near federal buildings within the city. Despite this, the military’s U.S. Northern Command reports that the troops have no authority to arrest protesters, and were sent only to guard federal property and personnel. In 2024, there were 26.7 million veterans in the U.S., and this number is only projected to decline (U.S. Census Bureau).
Additional Considerations
Veterans’ advocacy groups, in direct contact with service members and their families, are deeply worried about the morale of the approximately 4,100 National Guard members and 700 U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles. Spokespeople from six veterans’ advocacy organizations stated that many troops found the assignment problematic, seeing it as political and as positioning them against fellow citizens. Advocates are also concerned about the deployment’s potential impact on military retention and recruitment.
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The deployment in Los Angeles coincides with a time of year when the California National Guard is usually focused on fighting wildfires, a fact that has raised worries among officials.