Freeway won't close for Marine live fire

Newsom raises concerns about I-5 during anniversary demonstration.

- BY MELODY GUTIERREZ

ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times MARINES train at Camp Pendleton, where the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps will be celebrated.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office backed off plans to close parts of Interstate 5 on Thursday after mounting tension with federal and military officials over a White House-directed live-fire event off Camp Pendleton’s coast.

The governor's office said that it was told that federal authorities were considering closing the freeway and that when no order materialized by Wednesday, state officials began weighing whether to do so themselves. Driving that decision, they said, were safety concerns about reports that Navy ships would fire live ordnance over the freeway onto the base during the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration Saturday.

The Marine Corps insisted that “no highways or transportation routes will be closed” after a detailed risk assessment. Marine Corps and White House officials did not respond to whether live rounds would be shot over the freeway as Newsom's office warned.

The episode underscored the growing friction between California and the Trump administration, with Newsom criticizing the White House for failing to coordinate or share safety information ahead of the event titled “Sea to Shore — A Review of Amphibious Strength,” which will feature Vice President JD Vance.

“Anything we can do to celebrate our vets, to celebrate our heroes, I’m all for,” Newsom said Thursday. “Let’s just do it in coordination and collaboration with state and local leaders. That continues to be a struggle with this administration.”