Torres Statement on DOD Inspector General Findings Confirming Unsafe Conditions for National Guard Troops Deployed to Los Angeles
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Norma Torres released the following statement after receiving a response from the Department of Defense Inspector General substantiating whistleblower complaints regarding unsafe conditions for National Guard troops and Marines deployed to Los Angeles in 2025:
“Last year, I raised serious concerns after hearing directly from whistleblowers about unacceptable conditions facing our service members deployed to Los Angeles, including reports of unsafe food, lack of clean water, and unsanitary living conditions.
“This week, the Department of Defense Inspector General has confirmed what those whistleblowers risked everything to report: our troops were served unsafe and unsanitary food during that deployment. That is unacceptable.
“These findings show just how unprepared the Department of Defense was for this mobilization, because it was a task they should not have been asked to do in the first place. We ask our service members to put their lives on the line for our country. The bare minimum we owe them is safe food, clean water, and dignified living conditions. Anything less is a failure of leadership.
“These findings also raise serious concerns about our military’s operational readiness. How was the food contract awarded? Did they follow the Request for Proposal (RFP) process? If we cannot properly support our troops here at home where logistics should be easy, how can we expect to sustain them in more complex deployments abroad?
“Oversight is not optional and I will continue to demand accountability from the Department of Defense and ensure that no service member is ever put in harm’s way due to negligence or mismanagement.”
Background:
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In July 2025, Rep. Torres sent a formal letter to the Department of Defense Inspector General raising whistleblower complaints about the treatment of National Guard troops and Marines deployed to Los Angeles.
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The complaints included concerns about food safety, access to clean water, and basic sanitary conditions.
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The Department of Defense Inspector General has now substantiated key elements of those complaints, specifically confirming that service members were served unsafe and unsanitary food.
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