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U.S. News
19 October 2025

Marine Corps Anniversary Shuts Down California Freeway

A live-fire military celebration at Camp Pendleton honoring the Marine Corps' 250th birthday sparks political clashes and travel chaos as state officials close Interstate 5 for safety.

On October 18, 2025, Southern California found itself at the intersection of military tradition, political controversy, and logistical chaos as the U.S. Marine Corps marked its 250th anniversary with a dramatic celebration at Camp Pendleton. The event, attended by Vice President JD Vance—the first Marine to serve as vice president—sparked a heated debate over public safety and the balance between honoring military heritage and civilian convenience.

The day’s festivities included a live-fire amphibious assault demonstration at Red Beach, with helicopters roaring overhead and amphibious vehicles charging through the surf. Families, military personnel, and dignitaries—including Second Lady Usha Vance—looked on as Marines stormed the shore, a vivid display of the Corps’ storied legacy. The spectacle was meant to remind everyone present, and those watching from afar, of the Marine Corps’ roots and its enduring role as what General Eric Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps, called America’s "911 force." In his rousing address, Smith declared, "The next fight is coming. Marines will be ready. Ready to fight. Ready to win."

But the celebration’s grandeur was matched by the scale of its disruption. To accommodate the live-fire exercise, a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5—the main artery linking San Diego and Los Angeles—was closed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The closure, which affected roughly 80,000 daily travelers and $94 million in freight, sent ripples of frustration across the region. Commuters faced up to two additional hours on the road, while passenger rail services running parallel to I-5 were also suspended for the afternoon. Detour routes snaked through San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties as Caltrans scrambled to keep traffic moving.

California Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to voice his objections. He lambasted the decision to fire live artillery shells over a busy highway as a "profoundly absurd show of force that could put Californians directly in harm’s way." In a pointed social media post, Newsom called the event a "vanity parade," adding, "PUT ASIDE YOUR VANITY PARADE AND PAY OUR TROOPS INSTEAD." He doubled down late Friday, arguing that "flying live rounds over a busy highway without coordination between state, federal, and local partners isn’t just wrong — it’s dangerous." According to the governor’s office, the closure was ultimately triggered by practice firings over the freeway the night before and a request from event organizers for signage warning of "Overhead fire in progress."

State transportation officials defended their decision, citing public safety as the paramount concern. Matt Rocco, spokesperson for the California Department of Transportation, explained, "This is all because of the White House-directed military event, that for the safety of the public, we need to shut down the freeway since they’re sending live ordinances over the freeway." The closure, he noted, was not taken lightly given the economic and logistical importance of the corridor.

On the other side of the debate, Vice President Vance and U.S. Marine officials maintained that the artillery exercise was safe and conducted on approved training ranges in accordance with established safety protocols. William Martin, a spokesperson for Vance, pushed back against Newsom’s claims, stating, "If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead." The Marines, for their part, insisted that the event was routine training and that no public highways or transportation routes would be closed—though Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol ultimately moved forward with the shutdown.

The tension between state and federal officials underscored deeper questions about the intersection of military necessity, political theater, and the everyday lives of Californians. As the Associated Press reported, the closure and its fallout became a flashpoint in the ongoing push and pull between Washington and Sacramento.

Amid the controversy, the celebration itself proceeded with all the pomp and circumstance expected of such a milestone. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a combat veteran, delivered a fiery speech that drew cheers from the crowd. "The truth is, your diversity is not your strength. Never has been. Your strength is in your unity of purpose. It's in your shared mission. It's in your oath to the Constitution. It's the bond that turns individuals into single-minded fighting units. You see, you are set apart. You're not civilians. You're devil dogs, leathernecks, United States Marines," Hegseth proclaimed, reinforcing the administration’s emphasis on unity and mission.

Vice President Vance’s own remarks blended solemnity with humor, resonating with Marines past and present. He shared stories from his service, including a memorable boot camp encounter with a drill instructor that left the crowd laughing. "That gunny’s leadership didn’t just save me money," Vance said, referencing a gunnery sergeant who steered him away from a predatory car loan. "It taught me that Marines look out for each other." He also honored legendary Marines and sailors, from Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer to Navy aviator Elmer Royce Williams, reminding the audience of the Corps’ proud lineage.

Vance used the occasion to address contemporary concerns as well, promising, "We will do everything possible to make sure enlisted Marines get paid. Political battles in Washington should not come at the expense of troops and their families." He closed with a rallying cry: "Keep kicking a--. Keep taking names. Semper Fidelis, Marines. Happy 250th birthday. God bless you."

The event’s significance extended beyond the pageantry. Camp Pendleton, established in 1942, is one of the Marine Corps’ most important training bases and a vital hub for amphibious and expeditionary operations. JD Vance’s personal ties to the Marines and the San Diego area—he served as a combat correspondent and his wife’s family is deeply rooted in the local academic community—added a layer of personal resonance to the proceedings.

By late afternoon, Caltrans announced that Interstate 5 had reopened. The traffic snarls and detours faded, but the debate over how best to honor military tradition in a densely populated, economically vital region remained. For many, the day was a reminder of the sacrifices made by Marines over 250 years—and the challenges of balancing commemoration with the realities of twenty-first-century life.

As the sun set over Camp Pendleton, the echoes of helicopters and the cheers of Marines lingered in the air, a testament to both the enduring spirit of the Corps and the complexities of modern America.