California's National Guard firefighters are functioning at a reduced rate of 40% efficiency, attributable to Trump's mobilization orders
Buckle Up, Cali: California gears up for a potentially scorching fire season as Gov. Gavin Newsom laments the depletion of state National Guard firefighting crews following President Trump's orders to redirect them to Los Angeles in response to federal immigration action.
Eight of California's 14 firefighting teams – known as the Task Force Rattlesnake – have been dispatched to L.A., leaving just six crews to brace for and potentially combat fires. This reduced force represents a significant drop from the nine crews available just a week ago, according to the governor.
Newsom asserted that with peak fire season already underway across the state, every available resource is needed to protect communities. "President Trump: scrap your unlawful order and send the Guard back to their crucial firefighting and prevention duties," Newsom declared.
CalGuard officials explained that the troops were called to federal active duty under Title 10 authority, which empowers the president to mobilize National Guard troops for federal service in specific emergency situations. Newsom contends these actions infringe upon the state's authority.
Trump invoked Title 10 on June 7, deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles to "temporarily safeguard" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and others performing federal functions. CalGuard spokesperson Carl Trujillo stated that troops federalized under this mandate fall under federal command and can't be re-tasked by the state.
California is bracing for an active wildfire season, with some areas facing notably warm and arid conditions in the upcoming months. The National Interagency Fire Center's latest outlook warns of "significant fire potential" in Northern California, the Sierra Nevada, and several of the state's coastal regions through September. At present, there are five active blazes in California, and CAL FIRE has responded to 2,990 fires that have torched nearly 93,000 acres so far this year.
The loss of Task Force Rattlesnake members has generated controversy, with critics questioning the president's decision to invoke Title 10 and send troops to Los Angeles. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass described the federalization of troops as a "provocation," while Newsom called the move "purposefully inflammatory" and filed a lawsuit against Trump, claiming the president's actions were unlawful.
Climate & Environment
A Tricky Fire Season in California: Trump's Actions Shed Light
As recent changes at FEMA, NOAA, and the U.S. Forest Service pose potential challenges for California, the president's actions have added complexity to an already challenging fire season.
The U.S. Forest Service, the largest federal firefighting entity, has suffered from staff reductions and budget cuts since Trump took office. Approximately 3,400 employees have been dismissed due to layoffs and buyouts, and the agency must contend with a renewed focus on timber production and other changes from the Trump administration.
Trump has also made significant changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, such as cancelling grants and reducing staff, and has hinted at disbanding the agency altogether by this fall.
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- As California braces for a challenging wildfire season with significant fire potential, Governor Gavin Newsom is questioning President Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops, citing the imminent threat of wildfires and the importance of every available resource.
- Eight of California's firefighting teams, known as the Task Force Rattlesnake, have been dispatched to Los Angeles in response to federal immigration action, leaving only six crews to confront the potential fires, a move criticized by Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
- California is grappling with a potential shortage of firefighting teams as President Trump, under Title 10 authority, has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles to safeguard ICE personnel, leaving the state with fewer resources during peak fire season.
- The loss of Task Force Rattlesnake members has contributed to a controversy surrounding Trump's decision to invoke Title 10 and send troops to Los Angeles, with Newsom filing a lawsuit claiming the actions are unlawful and infringing on the state's authority.
- The president's actions have added complexity to California's fire season, given recent changes at federal agencies such as FEMA, NOAA, and the U.S. Forest Service, where staff reductions, budget cuts, and a renewed focus on timber production pose potential challenges for the state.
- The depletion of California's National Guard firefighting crews is causing concern within environmental science communities as they prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, exacerbated by climate change and warm, arid conditions predicted in key regions.
- The politics surrounding immigration and federal emergency situations have resulted in a diversion of firefighting resources in California at a critical time, potentially hindering environmental policy and legislation aimed at addressing climate-change and wildfires, as well as general news coverage of war and conflicts.
