Hegseth Grilled by Congress Over LA Troop Deployment

Hegseth Grilled by Congress Over LA Troop Deployment/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced bipartisan criticism in Congress over deploying Marines to Los Angeles and his controversial shake-ups at the Pentagon. Lawmakers questioned the $134 million cost of the deployment and the lack of a clear defense budget. Hegseth defended his actions, aligning them with President Trump’s homeland security priorities.

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Hegseth’s Pentagon Leadership Quick Looks

• Pete Hegseth faced sharp bipartisan questioning on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
• Lawmakers expressed concern over troop deployment to Los Angeles and military budget secrecy.
• The $134 million price tag for sending troops raised alarm.
• Hegseth backed expanded domestic use of military personnel, aligning with Trump’s policies.
• Congress is still waiting on Trump’s proposed $1 trillion defense budget.
• Hegseth has prioritized cultural and ideological purges, including removing diversity programs.
• He renamed a Navy ship to reflect Trump-era symbolism over historical recognition.
• Lawmakers questioned drone vulnerability after Ukraine’s surprise strike on Russian bombers.
• Hegseth skipped key NATO talks, raising concerns over U.S. global leadership focus.
• Critics accused his tenure of being chaotic and performative, with little focus on strategy.

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Deep Look: Hegseth Pressed by Congress Over Troops, Pentagon Disarray

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced an intense grilling from lawmakers Tuesday during his first congressional testimony since taking office, as scrutiny deepened over his deployment of Marines to Los Angeles, controversial personnel changes, and an opaque Pentagon budget process under President Donald Trump.

At a hearing before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, both Democratic and Republican members challenged Hegseth’s decision to send active-duty troops into a domestic protest zone, questioned the escalating defense budget—reported to reach $1 trillion—and condemned the Pentagon’s increasing focus on cultural over strategic military reforms.

Lawmakers: Where’s the Budget, and What’s the Plan?

With 700 active-duty Marines and over 4,100 National Guard troops sent to Los Angeles to secure federal property during immigration protest raids, the committee demanded details on cost and rationale. Acting Pentagon Comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell eventually confirmed the price tag: $134 million.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) called the secretary’s tenure “marked by endless chaos,” while Republicans also signaled concern over ballooning expenses and opaque policymaking—particularly Trump’s $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative and taxpayer funding for a $45 million parade coinciding with Trump’s birthday.

Hegseth Defends Troop Deployment and Military Reforms

Hegseth maintained that troop deployment was necessary to safeguard federal agents amid unrest in California, echoing Trump’s emphasis on homeland security. He also suggested such domestic military use may become more common:

“We’re entering another phase… where the National Guard and reserves become a critical component of how we secure that homeland.”

However, under the Posse Comitatus Act, federal troops are largely barred from engaging in civilian law enforcement unless the Insurrection Act is invoked—an option that remains undetermined in this case.

Marine Commandant Gen. Eric Smith separately testified that the deployed Marines had yet to engage and expressed confidence in their ability to act within legal constraints.

Drone Attacks in Ukraine Spark U.S. Concerns

Beyond domestic deployment, lawmakers pressed Hegseth on Ukraine’s June 1 drone strike that destroyed several Russian bombers. Hegseth admitted the Pentagon was caught off guard, calling the attack a “technological wake-up call.”

“The department is learning every day from Ukraine… and is focused on better defending our own military airfields,” he said.

These revelations have accelerated internal reviews on drone defense systems and highlighted strategic blind spots in U.S. military preparedness.

Culture Wars at the Pentagon

While lawmakers remain focused on strategy and global security, Hegseth has leaned into a culture war agenda, heavily promoting his efforts to remove what he calls “woke ideology” from the military.

Key moves have included:

• Firing generals and officers associated with diversity initiatives
• Expelling transgender service members
• Removing or renaming military assets linked to progressive causes, including the de-naming of a Navy ship honoring slain LGBTQ+ activist Harvey Milk

Spokesman Sean Parnell defended these changes, saying the Pentagon must reflect “the commander-in-chief’s priorities” and promote a “warrior ethos.”

Global Leadership Takes Backseat

While Hegseth made a brief appearance at a national security conference in Asia, his absence from a major NATO allies gathering last week, where support for Ukraine was a focal point, drew concern. He deliberately skipped the summit, further reinforcing critiques that the Pentagon under his leadership is retreating from global strategic engagement.

Congress to Continue Pressing

This hearing was the first of three Hegseth is scheduled to face this week. Lawmakers across the aisle signaled they would continue to challenge the lack of clarity and strategy behind major spending initiatives and military restructuring.

With a defense budget of unprecedented size, a war in Europe still raging, and rising tensions in the Pacific, critics argue the Pentagon needs focused leadership—something they fear Hegseth has yet to demonstrate.

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