U.S. Military Conducts Urban Training Exercises Across Los Angeles Region
Federal agencies have authorized large-scale tactical operations in Southern California through at least 2028, raising questions about the legal framework, cost, and interagency coordination...
Federal officials confirmed this week that large-scale military training exercises — including helicopter operations, simulated gunfire, and flash grenades — were conducted across Pasadena, Long Beach, and other Los Angeles-area communities, according to reporting by the New York Post dated June 2026. Officials stated the exercises could continue across the Southern California region for up to two years. The drills are linked to preparations for a series of major international events scheduled to be hosted in the United States, including the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, all of which carry federal security mandates.
The use of domestic urban environments for military-style tactical training involves multiple federal agencies, potentially including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and local law enforcement under Joint Task Force arrangements. The specific legal authority cited for the exercises — whether under 10 U.S.C. § 275 governing military support to civilian law enforcement, or another statutory framework — has not been publicly disclosed in available records reviewed as of June 6, 2026.
The financial scope of the operations is not yet established in public records. USASpending.gov contract data and DHS appropriations filings would be the primary documents needed to determine which federal accounts are funding the exercises, what contractors if any are involved, and the total authorized expenditure. No contract awards directly linked to these specific Southern California exercises appeared in a USASpending search conducted for this report.
Congress has not publicly held hearings specifically addressing the domestic training program as of the publication date of this article. The House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hold jurisdiction over the relevant statutes and appropriations. No floor statements, committee markups, or Congressional Record entries addressing the Los Angeles-area exercises were located in a search of congress.gov records current through June 6, 2026.
What remains unknown includes: the precise statutory authority invoked; the total cost and funding source; the identities of all participating agencies; the notification process, if any, provided to affected local governments; and whether a formal environmental or public safety assessment was conducted. The DHS Office of Public Affairs, the Department of Defense press office, and the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department are the primary public-record sources that would answer these open questions.