Hegseth defends use of troops to protect immigration raids in Los
Angeles
[June 12, 2025]
By LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his decision
to order troops to provide security during federal immigration raids in
Los Angeles, telling senators on Wednesday it's about “maintaining law
and order.”
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., condemned the move as illegal, saying it erodes
military readiness and questioning how it is being funded. It was the
second day of harsh congressional questioning for Hegseth on the
deployment of troops over the objections of California Gov. Gavin
Newsom, continued military aid to Ukraine, a deal on a gifted Qatari jet
and more.
“The mission in Los Angeles, as you know well, sir, is not about
lethality,” Hegseth said in response to questions. “It’s about
maintaining law and order on behalf of law enforcement agents who
deserve to do their job without being attacked by mobs of people.”
The exchange underscored confusion about the deployment of more than
4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to provide security at the
immigration protests and operations in Los Angeles. Photos have shown
Guard troops setting a security perimeter around agents as they make
arrests in the city, moving them closer to law enforcement functions,
which by law they are not allowed to do.
About 2,000 of the Guard soldiers are in place in Los Angeles, initially
sent to provide security. The Marines are at a nearby base and have not
yet been used.
Democrats press Hegseth on use of troops in US cities
Speaking at a Senate defense appropriations subcommittee hearing, Reed
said law and order is a civil function, not a job for the U.S. military.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., added that the California deployment, along
with President Donald Trump's threat to use force against protesters at
the Army's 250th anniversary parade on Saturday, “should stop every one
of us cold.”
She added that “threatening to use our own troops on our own citizens at
such scale is unprecedented. It is unconstitutional. And it is downright
un-American.”
Asked later what constitutional authority the department is using to
deploy active duty Marines to the protests, Hegseth said he didn't know
the specific provision but would provide it.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was
testifying alongside Hegseth, was asked whether he sees evidence of
“rebellion” in the U.S. That could be used to invoke the Insurrection
Act to use the military for law enforcement functions.
“There are definitely some frustrated folks out there,” Caine said in
response.
Answering the same question, Hegseth repeated Trump’s argument that
“there has been an invasion” of migrants entering the country without
legal permission, and he said the protests in Los Angeles could spread
to other areas.
Caine, asked if he believes the U.S. is being invaded by a foreign
power, said, “I don’t see any foreign, state-sponsored folks invading,
but I’ll be mindful of the fact that there have been some border
issues.”
[to top of second column]
|
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during a Senate
Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed
budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense,
on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP
Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Lawmakers raise concerns about continuing US support for Ukraine
Hegseth also faced bipartisan criticism for failing to provide
details about the administration’s first proposed defense budget and
over an array of other decisions he's made during his tenure.
The panel's chairman, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other
senators expressed frustration that Congress has not yet gotten a
full defense budget from the Trump administration and that the
current level does not have the U.S. spending enough on defense.
McConnell also noted that the limited budget request that lawmakers
have received has no funding for Ukraine security assistance,
questioning whether that makes “lasting peace” more or less likely.
Hegseth, in his opening remarks, said the department needed more
time to pull a spending plan together but that he has moved quickly
to kill wasteful programs and redirect funding to Trump’s
priorities.
Hegseth said a negotiated peace in Ukraine makes America look
strong, even though Russia is the aggressor. He said the budget
includes hard choices and “reflects the reality that Europe needs to
step up more for the defense of its own continent. And President
Trump deserves the credit for that."
Hegseth said some U.S. security spending for Ukraine is still in the
pipeline, but he provided no details.
Hegseth confirms no deal has been signed for the Qatari jet
Hegseth repeatedly refused to provide details on plans for the
Defense Department to accept a 747 jet offered by Qatar for use as
Air Force One. He said budgeting and schedules for security upgrades
to turn the plane into the president's aircraft are classified.
Hegseth confirmed reports that the Qataris have not come to an
agreement with the Trump administration over a memo that would allow
the military to take possession of the aircraft.
That also means no contracts have been signed to move forward on
overhauling the Qatari jet.
He refused to answer questions on the cost or potential timeframe of
that upgrade — even though data on two other 747s being
reconditioned by Boeing to serve as Air Force One is public.
“A memorandum of understanding remains to be signed,” Hegseth said.
___
AP writer David Klepper in Washington contributed to this report.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
