On June 10, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing regarding the Trump administration’s deployment of 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to address protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Lawmakers, expressing bipartisan frustration, grilled Hegseth on the $134 million cost of the 60-day operation, which covers travel, housing, and food, as confirmed by acting comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell. Hegseth defended the deployment, arguing it ensures the safety of federal agents and deters “rioters, looters, and thugs,” while suggesting an expanded role for the National Guard in homeland security under President Trump.
The hearing, the first chance for Congress to challenge Hegseth since his confirmation, turned contentious, with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) labeling his tenure “marked by endless chaos.” Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) pressed Hegseth on the costs, engaging in heated exchanges as he initially evaded questions. Lawmakers also criticized the lack of a detailed defense budget, with Trump’s proposed $1 trillion plan—exceeding the current $800 billion—drawing scrutiny, especially over projects like a $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense system and $45 million for a military parade tied to Trump’s birthday.
Hegseth’s deployment decision, following Trump’s order to federalize the Guard without California Governor Gavin Newsom’s consent, has sparked legal challenges, with Newsom citing violations of the Posse Comitatus Act. The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, clarified that Marines have not been called to act and lack arrest authority, focusing solely on protecting federal property. When questioned by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) about the risk of lethal force, Smith expressed confidence in the Marines’ discipline.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about Hegseth’s broader Pentagon management, including his focus on social changes like purging diversity programs, while sidestepping critical international issues like Ukraine’s recent drone attacks on Russian aircraft. The hearing underscored deep divisions, with California Democrats, led by Rep. Jimmy Gomez, denouncing the deployment as a dangerous precedent, while Hegseth and Trump maintain it’s essential for order.
