Military Members Express Discontent Over L.A. Deployment Amid Protests

LOS ANGELES, California — Service members from the California National Guard and Marines deployed to Los Angeles amid ongoing protests against the Trump administration are expressing dissatisfaction about their assignment. Many feel they are being used as pawns in a political game that they did not sign up for.

Advocacy groups representing military families have reported hearing from numerous affected service members who are uncomfortable with being deployed for domestic policing, which falls outside their typical operations. Sarah Streyder of the Secure Families Initiative said, “The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for.” Families worry about their loved ones’ safety and the implications of their service roles.

Chris Purdy from the Chamberlain Network noted that morale among troops is low, stating, “Morale is not great, is the quote I keep hearing.” Both the Marines and the California National Guard declined to comment on the situation.

President Trump ordered 4,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles without the consent of Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming that the city faced imminent violence from protesters. This controversial move drew ire from various political leaders who question the necessity of military involvement.

While organized protests have primarily been peaceful, they were sparked by federal immigration enforcement actions. During a recent demonstration, National Guard members remained largely in a staging area and their involvement in crowd control was minimal.

Despite the limited unrest, Trump described the situation in L.A. as one requiring quick military action, stating that failure to act would result in the city “burning to the ground.” Advocacy groups argue that partner forces must be careful about their roles in such tense environments, where miscommunication can lead to dangerous outcomes.

Governor Newsom, expressing concern for service members’ treatment, referred to the military deployment as a “misuse” of the troops. The conditions for some National Guard members were reportedly poor, with reports of troops sleeping on concrete without bedding and insufficient supplies, such as food and portable toilets.

Polling suggests that public opinion is divided regarding the deployment of military forces in L.A. A YouGov poll showed a significant number of Californians disapproving of not only the National Guard’s involvement but also Trump’s immigration policies. This dissatisfaction appears to echo within the ranks of service members themselves.

With military personnel prohibited from publicly discussing their assignments, many advocacy groups are serving as intermediaries to relay these concerns. A member of the National Guard reportedly referred to their assignment as “shitty” when compared to more traditional roles like disaster relief or health crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Janessa Goldbeck of the Vet Voice Foundation also noted a similar sentiment among Marines, stating, “Among all that I spoke with, the feeling was that the Marines are being used as political pawns.” This bifurcation between personal beliefs and duty underscores a larger discussion on the role of the military in domestic affairs.