Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps, is scheduled to testify separately Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
President Trump and Secretary Hegseth should read the Constitution and follow the law,” she said.
The Pentagon has not had a news conference since the deployment of troops to Los Angeles, referring reporters with questions about the mission to Hegseth’s posts on X.
On X, Hegseth said the troops were needed to protect federal immigration officers and detention buildings.
At the same time, Hegseth also faces reports of dysfunction and infighting among his personal staff at the Pentagon.
There are concerns regarding the deployment of troops to Los Angeles as part of an immigration crackdown, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to testify before a House panel on Tuesday for the first time since taking office five months ago.
General Hegseth was scheduled to testify before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine will meet with acting Pentagon Comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell to talk about the administration’s proposed budget request for 2026.
Hegseth is likely to focus on the Army’s recent recruiting successes and new technology initiatives during the hearing, avoiding many of the details of the military’s spending plan, which has not yet been made public.
The Pentagon’s decision to deploy about 4,800 troops, including 700 Marines, to Los Angeles after days of clashes between protesters and law enforcement there will, however, overshadow a large portion of his testimony. Title 10, which gives the president the authority to deploy military forces to defend federal personnel and property, is the legal basis for the deployment of the troops, known as Task Force 51.
Gen. The Marine Corps Commandant, Eric Smith, will give a separate testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
The night before Hegseth’s testimony, Rep. Minnesota Senator Betty McCollum, the leading Democrat on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, charged that President Donald Trump purposefully escalated the situation in Los Angeles by requesting military reinforcements that California Democratic Governor had not asked for. Newsom Gavin. She referred to the decision to send Marines specifically as “outrageous.”. “..”.
“There is absolutely no legal role for active duty military personnel in domestic law enforcement. She advised Secretary Hegseth and President Trump to read the Constitution and abide by the law.
Since the troops were sent to Los Angeles, the Pentagon has not held a press conference and has directed reporters with inquiries about the mission to Hegseth’s posts on X.
Hegseth claimed on X that the troops were required to guard detention facilities and federal immigration officers.
“While nonviolent protest is perfectly acceptable, attacking federal agents who are carrying out their duties is absolutely unacceptable. Hegseth said in a statement, “ICE has the support of the National Guard and Marines if necessary.”.
U. S. . Officials stated that the troops would only use their firearms and ammunition for self-defense and to guard federal property. Authorities stated that they would not assist law enforcement in arresting protesters or patrol the streets.
It is unclear if Trump intends to use the Insurrection Act, a law from 1807 that states the president may summon the U.S. military or a militia. A. military forces if a state has experienced “any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy” that “opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.”. “..”.
Trump mentioned the L on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. a. “Paid insurrectionists” and “violent, insurrectionist mobs” are words used to describe protesters. “,”.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told ABC News that the Secretary is in regular contact with the President about the National Guard presence in Los Angeles when asked if Hegseth had spoken with Trump on Monday. “..”.
Hegseth will accompany the president to Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Tuesday to take part in events related to the celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday after his testimony.
Hundreds of miles along the U.S. coast are now under military control under Hegseth. S. . southern border with Mexico to try to stop migrants from entering without permission. He has also reduced the number of general officers, canceled initiatives to diversify the military, and started the process of creating a $175 billion U.S. S. shield for missile defense.
At the same time, Hegseth’s personal staff at the Pentagon is reportedly dysfunctional and infighting. Ever since his Jan. 25 Hegseth has been without a chief of staff since April and has dismissed or sidelined a number of his own top political advisers since taking office.
Hegseth would also be making his first appearance at the hearing on Tuesday following disclosures that he used the for-profit messaging app Signal to inform other senior officials and others, including his wife, about an impending military assault. The inspector general for the Defense Department is currently looking into Hegseth’s use of Signal internally.
Luis Martinez of ABC contributed to this story.
