Safety Concerns Prompt Highway Shutdown Near Camp Pendleton
A section of Interstate 5 was closed on the orders of Governor Gavin Newsom after the U.S. Marine Corps announced a live-fire exercise close to Camp Pendleton. The operation, organized to commemorate the Marines’ 250th anniversary, involved the use of artillery and amphibious vehicles near one of California’s busiest traffic routes. Newsom said the exercise’s proximity to civilian areas presented an unnecessary danger, calling the demonstration “a reckless display that put motorists at risk.”
Governor Faults Federal Officials for Poor Planning
State leaders said they were caught off guard by the event and accused the Department of Defense of failing to coordinate with California’s emergency and transportation agencies. Newsom condemned what he described as a breakdown in communication, saying the state had not been properly briefed before preparations began. “California supports our service members,” he said, “but hosting live-fire drills beside a public highway shows a clear lack of judgment.”
Military Leaders Reject Safety Concerns
The Pentagon and Marine Corps defended the exercise, insisting that all training activities were safely confined within military boundaries and monitored under strict protocols. Officials said there was no credible risk to nearby communities or drivers and that precautionary measures were in place throughout. The brief closure led to minor delays in the San Diego–Orange County corridor, with traffic returning to normal after the drills concluded without incident.
