Hegseth defends National Guard LA deployments, says ICE agents must be protected

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth connected 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 support ICE agents and citizens from convulsive rioters — and asserting that Trump is stepping successful to bash the job.

Hegseth sparred with Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., during a heated House Appropriations Subcommittee proceeding connected Tuesday, asserting that the president had the ineligible authorization to deploy the troops since rioters had attacked ICE agents and torched spot successful parts of the sanctuary metropolis – portion waving Mexican flags and flags of different nations.

"The politician of California is incapable to execute the laws of the United States," Hegseth said. "The politician of California has failed to support his people, on with the politician of Los Angeles and truthful President Trump has said helium volition support our agents and our Guard and Marines are arrogant to bash it."

Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies earlier the House Committee connected Appropriations subcommittee oversight proceeding connected the Department of Defense, connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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Hegseth justified the determination for the Trump medication to intervene, saying that each American national deserves to unrecorded successful a assemblage that is safe, and that ICE agents request to beryllium capable to bash their job. The riots broke retired connected Friday arsenic ICE agents were taking portion successful deportation raids successful the city, fulfilling a cardinal portion of Trump’s migration enforcement agenda.

"They're being attacked for doing their job, which is deporting amerciable criminals that should hap successful immoderate city, Minneapolis oregon Los Angeles," Hegseth said. "And if they're attacked, that's lawless and President Trump believes successful instrumentality and order, truthful helium has each authority."

Aguilar questioned whether Trump had the authorization to deploy National Guard troops nether 10 U.S. Code 12406, citing 3 examples of erstwhile it tin beryllium utilized portion besides blasting the medication for not consulting with the authorities earlier doing so. Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guardsmen and around 700 U.S. Marines.

 A rioter holds up a Mexican emblem arsenic burning cars enactment the thoroughfare connected June 8, 2025, successful Los Angeles, California. 

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"Invasion by a overseas nation, rebellion oregon unsafe rebellion against the authorization of the authorities of the United States, oregon the president is incapable with regular forces to execute the laws of the United States," Aguilar said. "Which authorization is triggered present to warrant the use?" 

But Hegseth fired backmost and said, "it sounds similar each 3 to me."

"If you've got millions of illegals, you don't cognize wherever they're coming from. They're waving flags from overseas countries and assaulting constabulary officers and instrumentality enforcement officers. You and I some cognize that President Trump has each the authorization necessary, and thankfully, he's consenting to bash it connected behalf of the citizens of Los Angeles, connected behalf of our ICE agents and behalf of our country."

Aguilar besides raised interest that the troops were ill-prepared, since pictures were posted of them sleeping connected floors successful uniform. 

"That’s a disingenuous onslaught that misrepresents however overmuch we attraction astir our troops… Nobody cares much astir the troops astatine the apical than this caput and the president successful our department," Hegseth said. "The commanders and troops connected the tract are precise good prepared... There are moments wherever you marque bash arsenic champion you tin temporarily, but we are ensuring they’re housed, fed, [and have] h2o capabilities successful existent clip from my office."

Rep. Pete Aguilar questions U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a proceeding astatine the U.S. Capitol connected June 10, 2025, successful Washington, D.C.  (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Bryn MacDonnell testified that the outgo of the deployment is expected to beryllium $134 million, with funds being pulled from regular operational accounts.

Elsewhere, Hegseth said the section would need $961.6 cardinal successful the fiscal twelvemonth 2026 budget, which would beryllium utilized to rebuild subject strength, countering China, borderline information and backing the new Golden Dome rocket defence system. A 10.5% wage rise was besides secured for inferior enlisted troops.