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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday forcefully defended the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, accusing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass of failing to give protection to ICE brokers and voters from violent rioters — and saying that Trump is stepping in to do the activity.
Hegseth sparred with Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., all the way through a heated House Appropriations Subcommittee listening to on Tuesday, saying that the president had the criminal authority to deploy the troops since rioters had attacked ICE brokers and torched assets in portions of the sanctuary town – whilst waving Mexican flags and flags of different countries.
“The governor of California is unable to execute the laws of the United States,” Hegseth stated. “The governor of California has failed to protect his people, along with the mayor of Los Angeles and so President Trump has said he will protect our agents and our Guard and Marines are proud to do it.”
Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies prior to the House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee oversight listening to at the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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Hegseth justified the verdict for the Trump management to interfere, pronouncing that each and every American citizen merits to reside in a group this is secure, and that ICE brokers want as a way to do their activity. The riots broke out on Friday as ICE brokers had been participating in deportation raids within the town, pleasant a key a part of Trump’s immigration enforcement time table.
“They’re being attacked for doing their job, which is deporting illegal criminals that should happen in any city, Minneapolis or Los Angeles,” Hegseth stated. “And if they’re attacked, that’s lawless and President Trump believes in law and order, so he has every authority.”
Aguilar wondered whether or not Trump had the authority to deploy National Guard troops beneath 10 U.S. Code 12406, bringing up 3 examples of when it may be used whilst additionally blasting the management for no longer consulting with the state prior to doing so. Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guardsmen and round 700 U.S. Marines.
A rioter holds up a Mexican flag as burning vehicles line the road on June 8, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.
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“Invasion by a foreign nation, rebellion or dangerous rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States, or the president is unable with regular forces to execute the laws of the United States,” Aguilar stated. “Which authority is triggered here to justify the use?”
But Hegseth fired again and stated, “it sounds like all three to me.”
“If you’ve got millions of illegals, you don’t know where they’re coming from. They’re waving flags from foreign countries and assaulting police officers and law enforcement officers. You and I both know that President Trump has all the authority necessary, and thankfully, he’s willing to do it on behalf of the citizens of Los Angeles, on behalf of our ICE agents and behalf of our country.”
Aguilar additionally raised worry that the troops had been ill-prepared, since footage had been posted of them napping on flooring in uniform.
“That’s a disingenuous attack that misrepresents how much we care about our troops… Nobody cares more about the troops at the top than this secretary and the chairman in our department,” Hegseth stated. “The commanders and troops on the field are very well prepared… There are moments where you make do as best you can temporarily, but we are ensuring they’re housed, fed, [and have] water capabilities in real time from my office.”
Rep. Pete Aguilar questions U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth all the way through a listening to on the U.S. Capitol on June 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Bryn MacDonnell testified that the price of the deployment is anticipated to be $134 million, with finances being pulled from common operational accounts.
Elsewhere, Hegseth stated the dep. would want $961.6 billion within the fiscal yr 2026 price range, which might be used to rebuild army power, countering China, border safety and investment the brand new Golden Dome missile protection device. A ten.5% pay carry used to be additionally secured for junior enlisted troops.
