NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Padilla Demand Pentagon Detail Cost, Other Operational Specifics of Military Deployments in Los Angeles

Around 300 National Guard personnel remain deployed to the Los Angeles area three months after President Trump's federalization of the California National Guard

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) are demanding the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) provide information on operational details related to the deployment of California National Guard personnel in Los Angeles, first federalized by President Trump on June 9.

Among the details requested, the California Senators demand information on the total cost to taxpayers, including the sources of any funding that was reprogrammed for the activation, and the accounting of how many military and civilian personnel have been assigned to missions in and around Los Angeles. The Pentagon estimated a $134 million cost to the taxpayers in June before extending the deployment.

In a letter to DOD and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Schiff and Padilla reiterated their opposition to the activation of the Guard over the objections of California's Governor and the use of U.S. military personnel for politically motivated missions.

"There was no operational need for Guard or Marine personnel as local and state law enforcement officers were sufficient for crowd control and protecting the public and federal facilities. The use of the U.S. military to assist in or otherwise support immigration operations remains inappropriate, potentially a violation of the law, and harmful to the relationship between the U.S. public and the U.S. military," the California Senators wrote.

Following the initial deployment of members of the Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps, Schiff and Padilla told the Defense Department the action was "unjustifiable" and "irresponsibly rushed." Receiving answers to the questions about the cost and activities of the National Guard while deployed is particularly important due to the Trump Administration's use of Guard troops for similarly unnecessary and politically motivated purposes in other U.S. cities.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Hegseth,

Approximately 4,100 soldiers from the California National Guard were assigned to US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) Task Force 51 operations in Los Angeles pursuant to the President's June 9, 2025, federalization order along with approximately 700 U.S. Marines. Of that total, 300 Guard personnel remain activated.

We remain strongly opposed to the deployment in its entirety. For the first time in decades, the Guard was federalized over the objection of the home-state governor. There was no operational need for Guard or Marine personnel as local and state law enforcement officers were sufficient for crowd control and protecting the public and federal facilities. The use of the U.S. military to assist in or otherwise support immigration operations remains inappropriate, potentially a violation of the law, and harmful to the relationship between the U.S. public and the U.S. military.

As such, and given the use of the National Guard elsewhere across the United States in support of federal law enforcement functions, we request responses to the following questions by September 5, 2025:

• How many California Guard personnel were federalized on or after June 9? Where any Guard personnel from other states used? How many Marines were deployed to Los Angeles? How were these personnel requirements determined? Please provide all specific Guard and Marine units from which personnel were deployed.
• In addition to Guardsmen and Marines, were personnel from any other military service or reserve component deployed to Los Angeles since June 9? How many DoD civilians were assigned at any time to NORTHCOM's Task Force 51 during this period?
• What was the total cost across all relevant accounts to the Department of Defense to carry out these deployments and operations? Please delineate operations and maintenance costs, personnel costs, and any other accounts. Was funding reprogrammed or diverted from other programs to cover these costs?
• What was the utilization rate for military personnel during this deployment, and for what purposes? Please provide a breakdown of personnel directly supporting operations by DHS personnel, providing security on site, placed on stand-by status outside of the immediate protest or immigration enforcement areas, or in other capacities.
• Please provide the specific missions carried out by the Guard and Marine personnel (e.g., security of federal buildings, security of other federal personnel, crowd control, engaging in immigration enforcement, supporting immigration enforcement operations). Please provide the number of times and relevant detail for any cases in which DoD personnel made arrests, detained any individuals, otherwise exercised law enforcement authorities, or exercised use of lethal force during the operation.

Thank you for your prompt responses to these questions.

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