Military Fires Artillery Over California Freeway

The Marines fired 155-millimeter artillery shells over a major freeway in Southern California on Saturday as part of a demonstration at Camp Pendleton to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.

The plans to fire over the freeway triggered outrage by Gov. Gavin Newsom late Friday night after his office had been informed days earlier that the celebration would not involve firing munitions across Interstate 5, a heavily traveled corridor between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Early Saturday, Mr. Newsom said the state would shut a 17-mile section of the freeway from noon to 3 p.m. Pacific time because of potential hazards posed by the military’s plans.

He criticized President Trump and said the lack of coordination among state, federal and local officials was creating a dangerous situation. The artillery demonstration, which was attended by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and military officials, took place on the same day that anti-Trump activists held “No Kings” protests across the country, including in Southern California.

The state’s decision to close the freeway defied the guidance of federal officials, who had said the freeway would remain open during the demonstration. But Mr. Newsom said state highway officials determined the live fire exercise created an extreme safety risk and a distraction to drivers because of unexpected and loud explosions.

The section that closed was between Harbor Drive and Basilone Road, and traffic delays were expected throughout the region. About 80,000 people a day travel on the stretch of interstate between San Diego and Orange Counties, according to the governor’s office.

The military had planned to fire multiple rounds on Saturday but made a decision to fire only one round, according to Marines on site for the exercise.