California: Over half of this crucial firefighting team has been diverted off wildfire work as part of Trump’s illegal Guard deployment
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~ Sacramento, CA - As peak fire season approaches, California is facing a major setback in its firefighting efforts due to President Trump's illegal deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles. The deployment has resulted in over half of the crucial Joint Task Force Rattlesnake team being diverted from their wildfire work.

The Joint Task Force Rattlesnake is made up of 300 members of the California National Guard who work under the direction of CAL FIRE to fight and prevent fires. However, with the recent deployment, only nine teams are currently available and each of those teams is significantly understaffed.

Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his concern over the situation, stating that "with peak fire season right on the horizon, we need all available boots on the ground to protect communities." He called for an end to the chaos and for California's National Guard to be returned to their important work.

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This diversion of resources comes on top of the Trump administration's cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, which has lost 10% of all positions and 25% of positions outside of direct wildfire response. These cuts are likely to further impact wildfire response this year.

CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler emphasized the importance of having necessary firefighting resources in place, especially with over 2,300 wildfires already occurring in California just within the first five months of 2025.

Despite these challenges, California remains prepared for wildfire season. In fact, over the past five years, CAL FIRE has significantly expanded its workforce by adding an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually - almost double that from previous administrations.

In addition to this investment in wildfire resilience and emergency response, Governor Newsom recently announced $72 million for projects across the state aimed at reducing catastrophic wildfire risk. The state has also fast-tracked 20 new vegetation management projects spanning nearly 8,000 acres under a new streamlining initiative.

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Furthermore, Governor Newsom has taken bold steps to streamline state-level regulatory processes in order to increase wildfire response and forest management efforts in the face of a hotter, drier climate.

As the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hears Governor Newsom's motion to stop Trump's unlawful militarization of Los Angeles, it is clear that this deployment poses a grave risk not only to Californians but also to the servicemembers involved. Former military leaders have also spoken out against the occupation, stating that "we aren't a domestic police force."

Governor Newsom remains confident in the rule of law and continues to lead California in its efforts to protect against wildfires and other natural disasters. However, with President Trump's actions hindering these efforts, it is crucial for the deployment to end and for resources to be redirected towards protecting communities from potential wildfires.

Filed Under: Government, State
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