Direct numerical simulations were performed to investigate the physics of a spatially developing turbulent boundary layer flow subjected to spanwise oscillating electromagnetic forces in the near wall region. A fully implicit fractional step method was employed to simulate the flow. The mean flow properties and the Reynolds stresses were obtained to analyze the near-wall turbulent structure. It is found that skin friction and turbulent kinetic energy can be reduced by the electromagnetic forces. The decrease in production is responsible fur the reduction of turbulent kinetic energy. Instantaneous flow visualization techniques were used to observe the response of streamwise vortices and streak structures to spanwise oscillating forces. The near-wall vortical structures are affected by spanwise oscillating electromagnetic forces. Following the stopping of the electromagnetic force, the flow eventually relaxes back to a two-dimensional equilibrium boundary layer.