SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s workplace is weighing whether or not to shut elements of Interstate 5 starting Friday amid issues over what it says is a White Home-directed plan to make use of dwell ordnance throughout a navy anniversary celebration off Camp Pendleton’s coast in San Diego County — the place Navy ships are anticipated to fireplace over the freeway onto the bottom.
Newsom’s workplace has acquired, however not confirmed, experiences that dwell ordnance might be fired from offshore vessels throughout the occasion commemorating the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. The occasion is titled “Sea to Shore — A Evaluate of Amphibious Energy” and can characteristic Vice President JD Vance.
Newsom’s workplace mentioned it has acquired little details about the occasion or security plans. The navy present of drive coincides with No Kings rallies and marches throughout the state on Saturday which might be anticipated to attract massive crowds, demonstrations difficult Trump and what critics say is authorities overreach.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance assume that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is the way you respect the navy,” Newsom posted on the social media website X Wednesday.
A navy media advisory mentioned the celebration will embody a dwell amphibious assault demonstration. The Occasions couldn’t verify whether or not dwell ordnance might be fired over the freeway. The White Home and Marine Corps didn’t reply to questions from The Occasions.
“California at all times honors our Marines — however this isn’t the correct method to go about it,” mentioned a Newsom spokesperson. “The White Home ought to concentrate on paying their navy, reducing grocery costs and honoring these troopers for his or her service as a substitute of pompous shows of energy. The shortage of coordination and communication from the federal authorities on this occasion — and the general impression to our society and economic system — is obvious of the bigger disarray that’s the Trump Administration.”
Freeway closures are being thought of for a bit of I-5 between Orange County to San Diego County from Friday to Saturday, which might minimize off a serious visitors artery that strikes upward of 80,000 vacationers a day. A closure with little discover would possible end in large gridlock from Dana Level within the north to effectively previous Del Mar within the south.
California Division of Transportation spokesman Edward Barrera mentioned that based mostly on “potential eventualities shared with us by the federal authorities” the company is making ready shut down a bit of Interstate 5 for the protection of California motorists.
“If the federal authorities requests a closure of the freeway, drivers ought to anticipate delays on Interstate 5 and different state routes all through Southern California earlier than, throughout and after the occasion,” Barrera mentioned in an announcement.
Vance, the primary Marine veteran to function vice chairman, is predicted to attend the occasion Saturday together with 15,000 Marines, Sailors, veterans and their households, in keeping with occasion’s media launch. Together with Vance, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth is predicted to ship remarks.
Camp Pendleton suggested close by residents that there might be live-fire coaching with excessive explosive munitions by means of Sunday, which is able to end in some roads on base being closed.
The Trump administration beforehand had plans for a serious celebration subsequent month for the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marines, which might have included an air and sea present — with the Blue Angels and parading warships — attended by President Trump, in keeping with the San Diego Union-Tribune. Plans to host that present in San Diego have been known as off, the paper reported.
Camp Pendleton is a 125,000-acre base in northwestern San Diego County that has been crucial in making ready troopers for amphibious missions since World Conflict II due to its miles of seashore and coastal hills. The U.S. Division of Protection is contemplating making a portion of the bottom obtainable for improvement or lease.
