Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stood by the Trump administration's National Guard federalization and U.S. Marines deployment to the Los Angeles anti-ICE riots.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is defending his decision to order National Guard troops to provide security during immigrations raids in Los Angeles.

House Democratic appropriators and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traded barbs Tuesday over the deployment of U.S. military forces to California in an often contentious hearing that ultimately yielded few new details about what lawmakers were ostensibly present to discuss: the fiscal 2026 budget request.

Hegseth has deployed thousands of troops to Los Angeles in recent days to suppress protests against the Trump administration's deportations. He has faced criticism from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats who have said the troops are adding fuel to the fire and are not being put to good use.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration for federalizing the National Guard in L.A. County over the weekend, saying the president abused his authority.

California's two U.S. Senators pushed for more information about how hundreds of U.S. Marines were deployed to Los Angeles over the objections of local leaders.

The sweeps have fueled six days of protests resulting in hundreds of arrests in Los Angeles while demonstrations have spread across the nation.

The defense secretary also suggested in his testimony to a House panel that the use of the National Guard for homeland defense would expand under President Trump.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his decision to order troops to provide security during federal immigration raids in Los Angeles.

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles to stop rioting could last 60 days and is estimated to cost at least $134 million, the Pentagon revealed Tuesday — as House Democrats slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his role in the mission.

President Trump has deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests over deportations.