A proposal to fire live rounds of artillery across Interstate 5, which is one of Southern California’s busiest freeways, as part of a high-profile Marine Corps demonstration that Vice President JD Vance will be attending has ignited a fierce political and safety storm among state and federal officials.
California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered a closure of a 17-mile stretch of I-5 on Saturday because of “serious public safety concerns” over the unprecedented decision to conduct live-fire military training directly above a vital transportation route.
Newsom Slams Military Display: “Ego Over Responsibility”
“President Trump is putting ego over duty with this callous indifference to the safety of the public,” Newsom said in a sharply worded statement. “Discharging live ammunition along a public roadway isn’t wrong — it’s dangerous.”
This decision was taken following state officials weighing requests by military organizers to erect roadside signs reading “Overhead fire in progress,” Newsom’s office said. The governor further stated that he has no issue with paying tribute to the military but “there are responsible and safe ways to do it that don’t put civilians in harm’s way.”.
The shutdown, which took several hours, made the road come to a standstill and disrupted commuters traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego — a highway that transports more than 80,000 vehicles daily and $94 million in cargo, based on state transportation reports.
Pentagon and Marine Corps Defend Event as Safe
U.S. Marine commanders strongly challenged the governor’s grievance, stating that the demonstration was “well within safety standards” and that artillery practice occurs “almost every week” at Camp Pendleton, the sprawling coastal training facility just north of San Diego.
“Weeks of rehearsals and deliberate planning guaranteed success at every step of execution,” Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis said. “Motorists or surrounding communities were never placed in jeopardy.”
A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the live-fire display was one component of a larger military show commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps designed to highlight contemporary amphibious combat capacity.
The gathering attracted Vice President JD Vance, a one-time Marine himself, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They both watched as planes scorched through the skies, armored vehicles rumbled over sand, and artillery shells boomed along the coast — leaving dramatic clouds of smoke visible for miles.
Republicans Accuse Newsom of ‘Political Theater’
The freeway closure rapidly drew ire from Republican lawmakers and right-wing commentators, who accused Newsom of using the episode to attack the White House.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose district borders Camp Pendleton, condemned the shutdown as “a spiteful publicity stunt” meant to embarrass federal officials.
Vice President Vance’s spokesman, William Martin, shot back, accusing Newsom of twisting the facts:
If Gavin Newsom wants to protest the military training maneuvers that render our Armed Forces the deadliest fighting entity on earth, he can be my guest,” Martin said in a letter to The New York Times. “But it won’t help our troops to mislead the public about threats to safety.”
Massive Traffic Congestion, No Injuries Reported
The California Highway Patrol reemphasized that the shutdown of I-5 ran 17 miles (27 kilometers) along the Camp Pendleton corridor and the freeway was periodically shut for several hours during the live-fire training. Even though the shutdown caused delay for several hours, officials mentioned that there were no accidents or injuries reported in relation to the artillery training.
Matt Rocco, a representative for the California Department of Transportation, said the move was precautionary. “All because of White House-mandated military activity,” Rocco stated. “In the interest of public safety, we were forced to close the freeway because they were moving live ordnance along it.”
The shutdown also axed Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and other commuter trains running parallel to the freeway, leaving passengers stranded or in need of alternative transportation.
A Symbolic Collision Between Safety and Spectacle
The battle reflects a growing political divide between Sacramento and Washington, as Newsom and Washington politicians frequently clash on policy and priorities — from climate to national security.
While the Marine Corps anniversary celebration was meant to show strength and unity, it rather became a provoking point for debate over how far the federal government can stretch the application of military power for public functions.
Transportation experts have also raised the alarm about the precedent this show creates. “This was an unprecedented action,” declared Dr. Emily Torres, a defense expert at the University of Southern California. “Live-fire exercises over public infrastructure blur the line between military training and political theater.”
Though traffic eventually returned to normal by late Saturday afternoon, the larger question remained: Was the show of muscle worth the disruption and risk?
Until now, the California governor remains steadfast. “We can honor our military without putting our citizens at risk,” Newsom said. “That’s not politics — that’s common sense.”
